Met office weather warnings for heavy rain, severe gales and snow

[OhYouMerryLittleKitten]

Going to be an eventful few days. Have been discussing it in te Christmas weather thread but I think they need highlighting. met office warnings

Wind picking up a bit (London) but not too bad.

Strong winds & rain in Oldham. We're in quite an exposed spot though.

It makes me very nervous as we have a huge tree a few metres from the house. If it fell, it would take half the house with it .

Absolutely miserable here! Very glad we delayed our journey for 24 hours.

Just had a 61mph gust and the rain is coming into the kitchen conservatory and down the chimney again. Waaaaah sad

Very wet & windy in the Irish Sea area at the moment, and we have Storm Force 10 winds forecast for tomorrow during the day!! Thats windy even by our standards!

pepperrabbit - I was in similar situation but decided to work from home and pack DD off to a friend instead of taking her into London. Relieved now that I did as SW Trains have already cancelled a number of services this afternoon, hope your line is better than mine.

Here are changes they've made so far.

Its really picking up here, but the rain isnt too bad yet.

Bloody horrid here in Surrey, I need to pick DD up about 1pm from her friends which is only a 5 minute walk away. Would it be ridiculous to take a taxi?

I read "On Tuesday 24 December first train services may be run as route proving trains (empty trains) to operate through the affected section of track to check no obstructions are on the track." on te SW trains site and thought about those intrepid drivers wondering what they will come across.

amber warnings for the SE

I think the northern ambers will go up later today.

Lifted from the met office site for anyone on mobile devices:
"Southwesterly gales and locally severe gales will continue across southern and eastern parts of England during Monday night, but are expected to strengthen further across parts of southeast England, in the Amber warning area, during the early hours of Tuesday, with gusts of 65-75 mph inland and 75-85 mph along exposed coasts. The winds will ease from the west by morning."

Though tomorrow looks just as bad. Sigh.

MIL will clearly never speak to us if we don't go. She would rather we risked life and limb for her Determined Family Christmas.

I was supposed to go to Hastings today to visit my dad and stay overnight (we traditionally do Christmas on Christmas Eve), but all trains are cancelled. A landslip at Wadhurst. Hours of heavy rain later aren't going to help that situation...

Roads are flooded all over here already. I dread what to think it will be like by tomorrow if this level of rain keeps up.

Hester, I think it will be a little easier tomorrow, especially if you can leave it a little while. Might need a chainsaw though to get through the roads!

LadyStark it's certainly picked up here in the last hour. DH has promised to head home as soon as he can if it gets really bad. I think he's having too much fun at the children's' party... At least he's given up on his plan to take the kids along the South Bank to look at "Christmassy stuff" on the way back to the station!
He says he may work from home tomorrow and they haven't cancelled any of the relevant trains yet.

My DP works in Canary Wharf and although you get an excellent view of the weather I don't think you really "feel" it as much in the City due to lack of trees and being protected a bit by all the high buildings. I just called him and suggested he head back early and he clearly thinks I am worrying too much!

The South Bank wouldn't be much fun today I don't think, good call Mr.Pepper.

QEII bridge closing from noon for 16 hours

Yellow and amber warnings for the north of the UK now. We seem to be in the tiny triangle with no warnings at all.
Current pressure reading ~ 989.4 and strongest wind gust 24mph a few minutes ago at 11.53.

Thanks Gloria.

Reports of a tree down on the rail line near Guildford.

The updated warnings may be reflecting the path of the storm coming more southerly than expected.

Just put my location on the metoffice site and it's showing the strongest gusts (42mph) for around now then it eases off a bit. Same for tomorrow.

I dread to think what people are experiencing with stronger gusts - it looks wild out there.

I've just started a thread on this so sorry to gatecrash this one - do I tell my sister not to come till tomorrow? Supposed to be leaving Somerset shortly to come to me in Surrey via the A303. Not looking good, is it?

Absolutely thistle, tell her to stay put and wait til mid morning tomorrow.

Ok will do, thanks x

Friends ferry from Lymington been diverted to Portsmouth