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

I'm in awe of you a bit, Kitten, I'd love to be able to read the charts. I was going to tale tge scenic route along the A35 and the coast roads but I think I'll stick to the A303 now!

Sensible lady flumpalot!

I've had a look at the met office and they are now saying 70mph winds at lunchtime tomorrow in the SW so my advice about travelling in the morning tomorrow needs to be perhaps reconsidered for those in the SW. If you need to, go early early and be prepared to change plans.

Some of the charts are The west/NW coast of Ireland looks like it's going to get a battering as well.

I've had a look at Kent and it looks just as breezy, if not breezier than the far south west overnight on Monday.

Here is a firm instruction to trees on the Blackdown Hills NOT to fall over the A303 please

I think Kent could be looking at 80mph winds close to the coast.

The charts are pretty shocking.

Tthe highways agency have issued a severe weather alert.

I've just been looking at the pressure charts. DH has been teaching me to measure between the isoars and roughly use the met office geostrophic wind scale. 80 knots! And somewhere out in the north Atlantic, over 100

Bugger. Envy/Nausea fail.

not quite sure about that Hester, but only cos I'm not quite sure what he is saying, but it is true that those little lows that zip up from the channel are rather nasty, especially if they are undergoing RACY.

For those who arent sure of the comparison of knots-mph 80kts=92mph.

oh, but worth remembering for those that arent sure, the geostrophic wind scale is theoretical and surface friction lowers the speed.

Well Monday my plan was to just relax and go to a super market for last minute Christmas stuff, then on Tuesday we won't have to go anywhere but Wednesday I have an evening shift and Thursday I am working all day. Bit worried now but if I don't get to work, people don't get out of bed or get to eat... I have to brave it and get to work.

My DSis is travelling from London to Scotland today, then getting the ferry to NI this evening. By the looks of things, they should avoid most of the bad weather which is to get worse tomorrow?

Beryl, they have chosen a good day to travel! It will be choppy but hopefully ok.

Sorry. I often talk to people on MN like it's a personal conversation, quite forgetting we're actually on the worldwide web . I actually (and clearly) don't know much about the weather at all, am just fascinated by it.

Interesting point about surface friction. Logical of course. 80 knots is a lot, and nothing is forecasting that.

You learn something every day.

Anyway today is a lovely day. There's no gale blowing and rain isn't pouring out of the sky in sheets.

Hester - if you are travelling Tuesday look out for a dark blue Mitsubishi going the opposite way! Sounds like our paths are going to cross.

06Z GFS is out and I'm afraid it isnt any better :( Rare to not have a bit of downgrading by now. Storm on the 27th/28th is still also very much an 'oh shit' storm.

Hester, i think you know a lot more than average

OK!

We'll be in a green focus and will be setting off approx 8am. ETA 2.30 barring falling trees, floods and general mishaps. Maybe we can stop by the 'Henge and exchange mince pies :o

Not looking forward to this storm on 27th/28th. I'll be travelling back up to Scotland for a funeral. Debating whether to book train tickets or to drive. Don't fancy delayed trains with baby ds.
Hope everyone stays safe and gets where they need to be for Christmas

I live near Stourhead so will be getting on the A303 at Mere at about 8:30 - staying on the A303 til Honiton. Will look out for you! I reckob we will pass about Taunton by that corner my DH calls the Nurburgcorner.

Take a tip from me though, coukd be worth your while to dive off the 303 at the new Stonehenge roundabout and cut through either Larkhill to come out at Countess services or Salisbury and Amesbury. Stonehenge was a nightmare yesterday.

Ah. Good plan and thanks for the tip. Last time we drove up on a Friday evening we were stuck for ages and couldn't work out what the problem was until DH shouted suddently "It's that f*!king Stonehenge. Bulldoze it!" :o

It should be easier to forecast what is going to happen on the 27th after this storm passes through.

We lost a fence panel too whatevertheweather Luckily it isn't mine though!

Im sat here watching the sun going in and out and considering going out for a walk - but I also need to go to Tesco!

We are driving from Brussels to Deal in Kent tomorrow. Luckily not taking a ferry. We're not booked onto Eurotunnel til lunchtime unfortunately. Eek!