I'm probably going to have to cancel DS's party, aren't I?

[Mamathulu]

South coast England (Brighton-Hastings). Just woken up with the gusts, but it doesn't take much to rouse me. I know safety is paramount, but I'm worried we're going to have to cancel DS's party that's set for tomorrow (Sunday) at 10.30.

We're only yellow here, Met office says 45 winds, but he and all his friends are SEND. He'll be devastated if no-one comes because of the weather, but if we cancel, he'll never forgive me. We're hiring a cinema as well, so that'll be £120 gone too. And the cinema where it is only has one screen, so there'll likely not be the chance to reschedule this side of Christmas. FFS.

Just when I thought we'd managed to get a party sorted and no bloody illnesses were striking to blight it, which is what normally happens. WWYD?

And Brighton is only a yellow warning...

It will be fine. The winds will have dropped by then. Don't cancel

We are not that far from Brighton and the weather warning ends at 6am Sunday. So I would be going ahead.

We're hosting a party today and I have no intention of cancelling. In fact I'm assuming we may get some last minute RSVPs saying they are coming or people who haven't replied turning up because of the weather.

Big difference between a red and a yellow warning though.

Met Office says it's still a yellow weather warning on Sunday, but in your neck of the woods they're forecasting winds of 20mph gusting to the high 40s low 50s in the early hours of Sunday, and then dropping to 15mph (high 30s gusts), so you should be fine. I'd suggest letting the other parents know that you're still planning on going ahead, but you'll need to doublecheck with the cinema on Sunday morning that they've not suffered any storm damage. It's possible that you might lose one or two attendees due to travel or home damage issues, so it's worth thinking about whether DS will cope better with being forewarned about that, or he'll spend the next 24 hours worrying about it.

I wouldn't cancel for a yellow warning. Not for an indoor event anyway, unless the specific location or route to it were affected by flooding, damage etc.

I'm in the red area and all warnings here, even yellow, end by 6am Sunday, so am assuming we'll do normal things Sunday unless disruption from damage etc. the warnings may be later where you are, but only red warnings mean you should automatically cancel I'd say.

You don't need to do either of those things. The cinema isn't going to close! And all you'll do by messaging the parents is make them think it's not going to happen and they'll make other plans and let your son down.

I'm not sure why you'd even consider cancelling for a yellow warning and an indoor party

I definitely wouldn’t cancel an indoor party. The parents will probably be glad their DC have something to do. My DC is at a party tomorrow and I’m sure it’ll still be going ahead.

I’m not far from you, it’s really not so bad out. It just sounds rather scary.

I am about to take the dog for a long walk, and I honestly wouldn’t do that if I thought it was dangerous.

I think your party will be fine to go ahead tomorrow, don’t worry.

Obviously.

But I still personally wouldn't be going out on a yellow warning unless necessary.

That warning doesn’t apply to where the OP is.

Go ahead with the party, OP. It sounds wonderful.

Why? A yellow warning is issued pretty frequently in many parts of the country. If you didn't go out in them you'd be spending a lot of time inside especially in winter.

If it's Sunday and indoors then probably should be ok?

DS is invited to a party tomorrow and it hasn’t even occurred to me that it could be cancelled. I would only cancel if the venue did and I can’t imagine they would close. Stormy weekends are great for profits. I would just check in with parents today to let them know party is going ahead, and offer to take anyone who may not be able to get there.

Aw brilliant. Thanks everyone. I feel a lot more confident not cancelling now, knowing that you'd all do the same. Fingers crossed it does die down by tomorrow.

I totally understand, my daughters birthday party is tomorrow and we're in a red area so everything is shut today, will just have to see how it is in the morning. Worst case is we rearrange for new year and eat mini sausage rolls at home for a while. No SEND though so appreciate that makes it much more difficult to change plans. Fingers crossed for you.

If the staff can get to work in the cinema, then so can parents and children.

MN is great for checking things out. And I'm glad you got so many sensible replies.

I'm in Amber and about to leave for work.

Hope your son has a lovely birthday, such a good party idea

Wouldn’t even occur to me to think of cancelling, either as organiser or parent of an invitee! If it were a bouncy castle party, yes. But an indoor cinema party?!? Especially on Sunday in the south east, it’s not like you were planning a cliff walk in Tenby.

Really glad MN has given good advice and you feel more comfortable now, OP.

How did it go @Mamathulu ? Did we party and have fun?