Warning: Yellow

To expect: Wind

Affected area: Multiple, listed below

Start time estimate: Saturday 4pm

End time estimate: Sunday 5am

The Met Office has issued a Yellow wind warning for several regions across the UK until early Sunday morning.

The warning is covering parts of East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, North West England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber. All local areas affected are listed below.

Strong gusts are set to sweep through the regions on Saturday at around 4pm. The hazardous winds are expected to continue battering the areas until Sunday 5am.

The Yellow alert for wind was announced at 12:13pm on Saturday, September 20.

A Met Office forecast said: “A developing area of low pressure may produce a short spell of very strong winds. Winds will initially strengthen across some western and southwestern areas, before migrating northeastwards, clearing into the North Sea during the early hours of Sunday morning. Whilst not everywhere in the warning is expected to experience very strong winds, some inland locations may see gusts of 50-60 mph whilst gusts of 65-75 mph are possible around some coasts. The strongest winds are more likely around Bristol Channel and the west Wales coast on Saturday afternoon and early evening, then along the North Sea coast of east and northeast England overnight into early Sunday morning.”

What to expect

There is a slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs; There is a small chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected; There is a small chance that some roads and bridges could temporarily close; There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage; There is a small chance of injuries from flying debris.

What should you do during high winds?

Prepare to protect your property and people from injury.

Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include: bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do: consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea.

Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly. When a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

Full list of local areas affected

East Midlands
Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland

East of England
Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough

London and South East England
Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire

North West England
Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Merseyside

South West England
Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Devon, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire

Wales
Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham

West Midlands
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire

Yorkshire and Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for wind will remain in place until 5am on Sunday.