A major storm with hurricane-force gusts is lashing southern Britain, parts of France and the Netherlands, causing flooding and travel delays, including the cancellation of roughly 130 flights at London's Heathrow Airport.

Express train services between central London and Gatwick and Stansted airports were suspended because of the storm, and the major English port of Dover was closed, leading to a cutoff of ferry services to France.

Thousands of homes in northwestern France lost electricity, while in the Netherlands several rail lines were closed, airport delays were reported and citizens were warned against riding their bicycles - a favored form of transport - because of high winds. Amsterdam's Central railway station was shut by storm damage.