| Scarlett. |
09-03-2008 01:24 PM |
Big storm to hit the UK and Ireland
Winds of up to 80mph, heavy rain and hailstones are forecast to hit the country from midnight.
Surfers enjoy the huge surf at Tynemouth as stormy winds are forecast
Surfers enjoy the huge surf at Tynemouth as stormy winds are forecast
The storm is expected to disrupt transport networks and power supplies, with airports and ferry companies warning of possible delays and cancellations.
The Met Office has also warned the public of the increased risk of flooding on the west coast, with spring tides set to coincide with the heavy rain and gale-force winds.
Severe weather warnings are in place for all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern and central Scotland, but South Wales and Southern England are expected to bear the brunt of the storm.
The Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from coastal areas as the storm threatens to bring high waves and flooding.
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The storm developed from a strong jet stream that moved out of Canada yesterday, crossing the Atlantic before hitting Britain on Sunday.
According to Meteogroup UK, the storm will hit the UK in two waves, with more bad weather expected later this week.
Rachel Vince, senior forecaster at Meteogroup, said the storm would start to pick up after midnight, with heavy rain, hail and lightning moving across the county overnight.
She said: "It's unlikely we could expect gales as strong as the 1987 one.”
"Nevertheless, where you do see the strongest winds you could expect some trees to fall and possibly some structural damage to buildings."
Ferry services have already fallen victim to the extreme weather, with P&O Ferries cancelling its sailings from Portsmouth to Bilbao today and from Bilbao to Portsmouth on March 11, according to an announcement on the company's website.
P&O's sailings between Dover and Calais are currently experiencing delays of up to an hour due to the severe weather conditions.
Flight schedules are also expected to face disruption when the storm hits the UK. A spokeswoman for Gatwick airport said the airport was prepared for possible cancellations or delays when the storm strikes.
She said: "We are in regular contact with the Met Office, and our airfield operations are ready to take guidance from them.
"Operations are running as usual at the moment, and we have to deal with each issue on its own merit, but if the weather is as bad as currently predicted, there may be delays or cancellations."
The storm is expected to be at its most fierce tomorrow morning, with strong westerly gusts in the west and south of the country.
David Rooke, head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency, urged people in coastal areas to take all necessary precautions.
He said: "People living in properties in low-lying exposed coastal areas along the south west, Wales and north-west England should make sure they are monitoring the situation from Sunday afternoon onwards by checking flood updates on the Environment Agency website or ringing Floodline.
"The strong winds will combine with spring high tides to significantly elevate the water levels along the coast which is likely to cause some flooding.
"We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves - it is extremely dangerous and only takes a few seconds for someone to be knocked off their feet, into the water."
The Environment Agency currently has one flood warning in force, at the Aldwark Bridge area in North Yorkshire, and 10 flood watches.
The Met Office's chief forecaster Martin Young said: " It will be very windy for many parts of the UK in the early part of next week, but especially so across coasts in the south.
"Southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the early hours of Monday causing severe gales. After a brief respite, further westerly severe gales are forecast for later in the day and into the early hours of Tuesday." .
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