Gusts reached up to 75mph at exposed Emley Moor at 2pm today as the district was battered by the third storm of five in five days.

Tree branches came down and driving was hazardous as rain and wind curtailed weekend fun on the countdown to Christmas.

The second day of the popular Victorian Christmas Fair in Brighouse was lost to the storms, Mirfield’s Christmas lights celebrations were scaled back and people were injured after two accidents on greasy country lanes above Upper Hopton and Kirkheaton.

Examiner weather expert Paul Stevens was shocked when he checked readings from his Emley Moor weather station which recorded gusts of 75mph.

“That’s as high as it gets really, 75-80mph. With that we are talking minor structural damage and tree branches coming down.

“These gusts are certainly strong enough to topple a lorry or blow a car across the carriageway.”

'The Cutting' in Wakefield Road in Dewsbury - a major route to Junction 40 of the M1 - was closed on Sunday by a fallen tree branch. Pic by: Ash Milnes.

Mr Stevens had forecast five storms in five days and today’s was the third. Others follow in the next two days with more heavy rain expected tonight.

Sunday’s “squally front” led to what he described as a “rough day”. Even at lower levels gusts were 50-60mph.

This November has been one of the wettest months on record, with around three times the average November rainfall.

The highest was 215mm (8.46 inches) in 2009 and this year’s total will be close.

In 2009 the wet November heralded a harsh winter with snow in December. “That doesn’t mean the same will necessarily happen again,” said Mr Stevens.

Melanie Caruso sent us this picture on Facebook - but nobody seemed to spot a tornado in town!

Fire crews had a busy weekend as a girl and two men were hurt following two separate crashes on a country lane.

The first accident, involving a car and a van, happened on Liley Lane, Upper Hopton, on Saturday, at around 2.20pm.

It is thought the car collided with a van before striking a wall and overturning.

The man and the 12-year-old girl had managed to free themselves from the stricken vehicle by the time rescue crews from Mirfield and Dewsbury arrived.

The second accident took place on Cockley Hill Lane, Kirkheaton, at around 12.30pm on Sunday.

A man and woman were rescued by firefighters after their car was blown off the country lane by strong crosswinds.

The man was taken to hospital following the accident. The road was closed.

A huge tree branch partially blocked Wakefield Road in Dewsbury – known locally as the Cutting – and speed limits on the M62 at Rakewood Viaduct between Milnrow and Rishworth Moor were cut to 50mph.

More: Click below to watch planes trying to land in high winds at Leeds Bradford airport in March this year

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