Storm Ciaran, walking to school.

[JIGNAJAY]

Anyone else wondered if it'll be safe to walk to and from school tomorrow with weather warnings in place? We have a 20ish min walk and I don't have a car. Considering booking a taxi but am counting every penny. Or am I being ott and walk will likely be fine? Already very windy here.

In Southampton, schools will be closed so the local nurseries have done the same. I work close to home but my employer wouldn't want me walking in, and DP drives to central Portsmouth and his employer is happy with him not coming in. Our issue isn't just trees falling but the random roof tile that falls in the storms.

Gosh!

High winds and saturated soils fell dead trees (and no doubt quite a few live ones by the end of this storm). But what do I know, I’ve only lived in the country all my life and walk or cycle along this particular lane at least 6 times a week.

I got hit in the head with roof tiles when it was the storm of 1987, walking home!! So I’m a bit nervous for the kids.

My sister is in Jersey, no response from her yet. My son at uni in Brighton, he just messaged to say it is picking up there and promised to stay home tonight. We live on a cliff top on Kent coast, no idea on any school closures as yet but I'll decide in morning, but with a daughter in a wheelchair, think we'll be staying home.

One of the trials of modern life is the phenomenon of people pronouncing confidently on topics they very clearly don't understand.

I am reading this and smiling as I remember my mother walking me to school in the 1963 snows...two miles with the snow over my five year old knees and a spare pair of shoes and tights. You had to be in ICU for my mother to let you miss school... if the school was open, then we were in.

I remember not being able to get to school in 1987 because trees were down. I don't see how it helps to minimise situations whereas being informed and preparing for them actually does help.

Yes, my grandma sent my dad to school with a broken arm once.

One of the trials of modern life is the phenomenon of people pronouncing confidently on topics they very clearly don't understand.

Not sure if that was directed at me @verdantverdure ?

I remember when an 18 year old boy died in that storm, as a tree came down on his car. There was a special assembly at my school as he was a former pupil.

Yep @MackrelSky a neighbour in my street was crushed in their car. I can't remember if they survived or not (I was 18, and slept through it all - I only found out about it when I couldn't get into work as the train lines were all blocked), but it was shocking nonetheless. I also lived next door to an orchard and it was a miracle our house didn't get smashed by all the fallen trees!

Why do you think people aren't thinking for themselves? The projected wind speed is highly unusual even for winter storms, most sane people reading the weather forecast would have in the back of their mind that if it comes to fruition they'll likely have to change their plans.

More agreeing with you.

I’m going to say it again and post a picture in case it helps.

i was walking down an ordinary high street last winter. It was very windy, can’t remember the name of the storm but it was strong enough to have a name.

This piece of metal was blown off the building I was passing and hit me in the face, maybe two inches from my eye. I was lucky not to be killed or lose an eye. I got away with a massive gash in my cheek that has left a nasty scar.

these storms are no joke. People who are being cautious are not being snowflakes.

No problem @verdantverdure wasn't sure that's all!

According to the Daily Mail the 1987 storm felled 15 million trees.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12696879/The-Great-Storm-1987-deadly-weather-killed-18-flattened-15million-trees-left-1-5billion-repair-bill-weatherman-Michael-Fish-told-nation-no-hurricane-coming.html

I was very unclear, my apologies.

It has come from there. It was on the side (the muddy banking) and the wind tore it out of the ground and it crashed onto the road. It happens all the time during high winds.

You can visibly see the roots and where it's rolled down the side and onto the road.

I agree about the warnings. I'm not in the UK, but every year we have strong, sometimes very strong, winds at this time of year and we are well used to them. We keep getting yellow and orange warnings, and every time it's just the normal wind - which can be damaging, but we just act with some care. I haven't actually heard of anyone getting worried, but I'm sure there are some who are, especially newcomers to the area. In the "old days" they would just say there would be strong winds and we got on with it. I don't take any notice now unless it is a red warning, and even in the strongest wind still go out walking (I don't have any other way of getting from A to B).

Irish so I assume? 😁

No - I live in NZ. Equinoctial gales.

In 1987 they complained about the lack of warning @Chickenkeev

Christ @BitOutOfPractice

I get that. But the problem is, when they overdo the warnings, people can tend to ignore them all. They end up lacking any meaning.