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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it too windy to walk to school?

54 replies

Stumpfest · 21/02/2022 06:34

It's currently 58pmh and set to be around this till 4pm. I have a 6, 4 and almost 2 year old in a buggy who I walk 0.7 miles to school and we walk a rural route with quite a lot of trees which are currently swaying. Not yet had a text from the school to say it's closed but I'm starring to worry about walking in this wind. Aibu?

OP posts:
Beees · 21/02/2022 08:23

Not surw its precious at all. I've just done the walk to nursery and even though it was only a 5 minute walk I struggled at times with the wind trying to force the pushchair into the road.

Just because its not that windy elsewhere and only a yellow warning doesn't mean its not horrible conditions for walking. If I didn't have to I certainly wouldn't be going out.

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:23

No one in either one of my childrens classes is remotely considering not going on!

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:23

@Beees

Not surw its precious at all. I've just done the walk to nursery and even though it was only a 5 minute walk I struggled at times with the wind trying to force the pushchair into the road.

Just because its not that windy elsewhere and only a yellow warning doesn't mean its not horrible conditions for walking. If I didn't have to I certainly wouldn't be going out.

You had a five minute horrible walk Would you honestly not do that again?
Shmithecat2 · 21/02/2022 08:25

The walking itself is OK, it's the possibility of falling/flying objects that would worry me.

Beees · 21/02/2022 08:26

You had a five minute horrible walk
Would you honestly not do that again?

How patronising. No I bloody wouldn't. I don't know about you but I don't particularly like the feeling that at any moment my child might end up in a busy road because the wind here is that fierce. If I can avoid doing that again of course I would.

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:34

Was it a busy road?

All those drivers ignoring advice not to drive
Scandalous!

TheNoodlesIncident · 21/02/2022 08:35

Where we are, the wind is much stronger than it was on Friday with Eunice. We didn't notice Dudley, Eunice moved a chair in the garden and Franklin has torn a cover off and loads of things had to be rescued by DH. It's very variable and I wouldn't judge someone somewhere else in the country by what we're experiencing.

One storm (Doris) we went out - against my better judgement but DS had a prepaid swim lesson - saw lots of downed trees over cars, houses and across roads, plus fallen walls and chimneys. It was nerve wracking and we felt lucky we went out and got back unscathed... and came back to the tree on the verge outside our garden lying on the ground (blocking our drive).

You really cannot tell. If you don't feel safe and can't get a taxi (I would try this first) then give it a miss for one day.

AnEpisodeOfEastenders · 21/02/2022 08:38

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Precious Hmm

Not everyone lives in the same place with the same wind speeds and levels of risk.

Right in the middle of 59 mph forecast winds. It’s windy but not an excuse to miss school, we’ve had enough of that over the past 2 years.
Beees · 21/02/2022 08:39

@Toanewstart23

Was it a busy road?

All those drivers ignoring advice not to drive
Scandalous!

A very busy road.

What advice has been issued not to drive? There hasn't been any has there on account of the warning only being a yellow warning.

girlmom21 · 21/02/2022 08:40

You'd probably find it easier letting the toddler walk than taking the buggy.

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:43

* Storm Eunice: National Highways issues ‘severe’ warning to Brits*

You’ll be fine!

Just back from my walk. Loved every minute and the children too. Every child in their classes seemed to be there too.

Now to sort out my hair before work…

ChickenStripper · 21/02/2022 08:43

@Toanewstart23

What’s the alternative to the rural route like?
😂
Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:44

* warning only being a yellow warning*

Yep, this

Beautiful3 · 21/02/2022 08:46

I was the same as you last Friday. I didn't take the youngest into school because of the storm. My friends said they had no problem getting to school and back. I felt very silly! So I would just take them.

Beees · 21/02/2022 08:48

Storm Eunice: National Highways issues ‘severe’ warning to Brits

Is that in relation to me asking where motorists ahve been told not to travel?

This isn't about storm Eunice that's been and gone this weather is a result of storm Franklin. Confused As far as I'm aware no warnings have been issued urging motorists not to travel as they have only declared it a yellow warning.

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:51

Ah my mistake!

Even less of an issue than I thought!

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 08:52

only declared it a yellow warning

Yep

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 21/02/2022 08:53

@Beees

Storm Eunice: National Highways issues ‘severe’ warning to Brits

Is that in relation to me asking where motorists ahve been told not to travel?

This isn't about storm Eunice that's been and gone this weather is a result of storm Franklin. Confused As far as I'm aware no warnings have been issued urging motorists not to travel as they have only declared it a yellow warning.

The M1 is closed due to flooding, local roads in some counties also closing for flooding, and a large lorry is on fire on the M6 after being blown into a bridge.

But sure, every area has the same amount of storm issues as in your back garden.

Beees · 21/02/2022 08:55

@Toanewstart23

Ah my mistake!

Even less of an issue than I thought!

I think maybe you should read the other thread currently trending about Franklin.

The whole point is that in some areas the weather is worse than it was during Eunice. The warning in some areas should 100% be more than a yellow.

If the OP doesn't feel its safe to travel on rural roads in this weather then I don't see why anyone would think she is unreasonable. You're not where she is so you cannot judge the weather based on how the weather is where you are.

KylieCharlene · 21/02/2022 08:56

I'd personally keep them home.
Is one day really worth all the anxiety and worrying about pick-up.

Sh05 · 21/02/2022 08:58

Were in greater Manchester, it's definitely worse today than it has been with the previous 2 storms.
Luckily our walk is only around 7 minutes each way and the rain has stopped so it wasn't too bad. My5 year old was still getting buffetted around by the wind though and I only had her to look after.
I hope you did whatever felt best for you. Nobody here knows your route and you've two children and a buggy to contend with in this wind.

Beees · 21/02/2022 08:58

The M1 is closed due to flooding, local roads in some counties also closing for flooding, and a large lorry is on fire on the M6 after being blown into a bridge.

But sure, every area has the same amount of storm issues as in your back garden.

Sorry if I haven't made my point clearly I absolutely don't think it's safe to travel, as I said above my walk to nursery was horrid.

I was responding to a previously hoady poster who said motorists had been ignoring travelling advice by pointing out its frustrating that no advice has actually been issued because apparently its only a yellow warning. The fact no warning has been issued is incredibly frustrating as its forcing people to travel in unsafe weather.

Toanewstart23 · 21/02/2022 09:00

Op gone quiet

I reckon she’s just saying goodbye at the school gates!

Whinge · 21/02/2022 09:01

The M1 is closed due to flooding, local roads in some counties also closing for flooding, and a large lorry is on fire on the M6 after being blown into a bridge.

But sure, every area has the same amount of storm issues as in your back garden.

I don't think Beees is minimising the severity of the storm. Confused

They were just responding to Toanewstart23 comment.

All those drivers ignoring advice not to drive

Because Franklin is only a yellow warning there hasn't actually been advice not to travel, so drivers aren't ignoring the advice as there hasn't been any travel advice issued to ignore.

solbunny · 21/02/2022 09:08

You know your route and your local weather conditions, just trust you gut, OP. I'd rather be over cautious and feel a little daft than regret going out if something bad happened. Ignore the sanctimonious posts here. One day off is hardly the end of the world.

I actually know someone who died after being hit in the head by a roof tile that was blown off a house - and it was in a much less severe storm than the one I'm currently experiencing in my area. Obviously I'm not saying I don't venture out at the slightest gust of wind, but it just makes me aware that anything can happen.

At the end of the day, my area was issued with a warning not to go out during Eunice. The storm I'm experiencing right now is much worse than Eunice. I'll use my brain and act accordingly rather than just think "oh, the MET office didn't tell me to be careful therefore I won't be careful".