Warning: Yellow
To expect: Wind
Affected areas: South West England
Start time estimate: Thursday 3pm
End time estimate: Thursday 11pm
The Met Office has issued a Yellow wind alert for South West England for Thursday, with conditions linked to Storm Goretti.
The region will be affected by strong winds, starting at around 3pm on Thursday. The strong gusts will continue lashing the area until 11pm.
The Yellow warning for wind was announced at 11:16am on Tuesday, January 6.
A Met Office forecast said: “A deep area of low pressure will move across the south of the UK during Thursday and into Friday bringing a mixture of rain, snow and strong winds. Strong northwesterly winds are expected to develop on Thursday afternoon across parts of southwest England before easing overnight. Gusts of 50-60 mph are likely but could reach 70 mph around exposed headlands and coasts. This system has been named by Meteo France as the strongest winds associated with Storm Goretti are most likely over northern France.”
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 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 that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties; There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris.
What should you do during gale-force 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.
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 11pm on Thursday.