Storm Ellen - would you drive in this?

[LongBlobson]

After months in the same house since lockdown, we are due to head to the west coast of Wales for our summer holiday today! We have a week booked in a cottage.

However the whole country is on this yellow wind warning and I'm concerned about whether it's safe to drive.

We are in the midlands and we were kept up in the night by the wind, which is only described as 'moderate' and under 20mph where we are but sounding fairly dramatic.

We'd be driving through areas forecast 40-50mph all day, and the last hour of the journey is currently forecast gales of over 60mph. Two kids in the car and a roof box on.

What would you do? We could brave it today, or head out first thing tomorrow and miss the first day of the holiday (which is due to be wet and windy too, though less so).

I'd probably hang on until the morning.

Which way are you going? If the M4 will the Severn Bridge be open?

Do you remember the St. Jude storm of 2013? We were meant to go on holiday that morning. We held off until lunchtime when it was dying down, the M25 was chaos, the Dartford Crossing was still closed and a 3hr journey ended up taking 8hrs.

I personally would probably drive in it, but it's really about what you feel comfortable with. The old bridge (M48) is closed today, but the newer one is open with no plans to close according to the bridge Twitter updates.

We don't have to go over any bridges thank goodness - but further north. We have to go across Wales and then through Snowdonia, mostly on A roads.

Depends on what you're driving. My dd's little Ford Fusion, maybe not. My dh's tank of a Range Rover absolutely.

If you're heading across to Welshpool and then down the coastal road (the A484 I think?) it should be fine, just take it steady.

off topic but I'm surprised it is only yellow warning? London is on yellow warning (as far as I was aware it is west coast that is going to suffer the brunt?)

I would for sure.

Drove to Anglesey from the midlands yesterday afternoon and we could feel the winds shaking the car once we hit Wales. A couple of times the wind dragged the car towards the other lane so we slowed right down. We’re now by the coast and the wind is savage - we don’t plan to drive anywhere other than the supermarket today.

I’m in midlands and personally I would but if you are nervous then don’t do it! You’ll end up feeling very anxious and that’s hardly a holiday is it? Take the day today to relax and go tomorrow.

You will be fine we are in Wales and drove in it yesterday experienced 65mph winds. It is wild at the moment near the sea but it is refreshing! You will be revitalised once you get here! Enjoy

Personally I would just carry on and go .

@Crunchymum yeah I was surprised about that too!

I probably wouldn't have even had a second thought about driving in a yellow wind warning. Take it steady and I'm sure you'll be fine.

DH and DD are currently camping in Pembrokeshire- DH says DD slept through Armageddon last night :)

I'd do it. We're heading home from the Shropshire hills/Welsh borders today and basically have to get back to East Anglia.

I'm just taking it slow and steady in a 15 year old car. We're off the steep single farm tracks now, and onto A- roads and it's ok.

Thanks all!

We've decided to go for it, but setting out later in the afternoon when the wind should have started to die down a bit.