The Royal Navy’s only ice patrol vessel, HMS Protector, was towed into Devonport after a reported double engine failure. The report describes its Antarctic monitoring, safe-navigation, and scientific-research support roles and notes concern about how the news may be interpreted in Argentina.
At a glance
Affected location: Devonport
Illustrative image: On the Harbour Tour in Portsmouth Harbour. HMS Protector (A173) MV Polarbjørn (Norwegian: polar bear) is a Norwegian icebreaker built in 2001. From April 2011, she has been chartered to the Royal Navy as the ice patrol ship HMS Protector. She was commissioned into the Navy on 23 June 2011. Previously she operated under charter as a polar research and a subsea support vessel. Tugboat beside Protector. — Elliott Brown from Birmingham, United Kingdom/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The warning reported severe thunderstorms capable of producing gusts near 50 knots, frequent lightning, and possible waterspouts over Rota Coastal Waters. It instructed mariners to move to safe harbor immediately.
A weather statement forecasts southerly wind gusts up to 80 km/h, possibly higher, across Whitehorse and other Yukon areas from midday Tuesday until early Wednesday. Potential impacts include localized power outages, travel delays, and tree or property damage.
An alert forecasts southerly wind gusts up to 80 km/h from midday Tuesday until early Wednesday, with possible higher gusts. The source lists potential localized power outages, travel delays, loose objects being tossed, and tree or property damage.
Very strong winds with gusts up to 80 km/h are forecast from midday Tuesday until early Wednesday for White Pass, Atlin, Teslin, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Kluane Lake, and Pelly-Carmacks. Localized power outages and travel disruptions are among the listed potential impacts.
A wind warning covers Port Saunders and the Straits, with gusts forecast up to 80 km/h and near 100 km/h along parts of the coast. The source advises securing loose objects and preparing for possible disruptions.
A fire closed Bedford Road N22 in London, diverting the W3 in both directions and leaving stops between Barratt Avenue and Alexandra Palace Garden Centre unserved. TfL listed the disruption at 17:48 UTC on 18 October 2026.