Weather warnings part 3 - February storms.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Really hoped we wouldnt need another thread so soon.

Tomorrow we have one dangerous storm with winds potentially 90mph off welsh coasts, 80mph inland and hitting Ireland very hard too.

met office warnings for heavy rain (exactly where we dont need it but also hitting western scotland), snow, perhaps even down to lower ground at times over night even pretty far south and storm force winds. Also widespread gales across England.

Then friday night into Saturday we have another potentially damaging low. The models have really struggled with this one and it needs a careful eye keeping on it.

Because the winds look so bad tomorrow for some (enough in the amber areas for me to suggest that you consider whether your journey is essential), I'll be logging on around 7:15am to update. My biggest concern is western Wales in the afternoon. However the track may change as the storm develops so the amber warning area may shift. It is possible that the met office may issue some red warnings close to the morning.

Looking further on, although storms may track to their more usual position (north of scotland) as the month goes on, unfortunately the rain looks set to continue, with little in the way of respite.

That would be highly funny pepper! I expect though a lot of areas are suffering the after effects. I expect the grid is really out of balance.

I'm in Greater Manchester, the winds were terrible here around 6-7pm. Journey home should be 30 mins on a clear road but it took me 2 hours to get home this evening around the M60 - I was nowhere near Barton Bridge but a lorry had blown over on the opposite carriageway, 2 lanes closed on my side to allow emergency services access, ambulance, 3 police cars & 4 fire engines pelting past, traffic at a standstill. After crawling through that I came off early to avoid the Barton Bridge tailback, took a few back roads which were ok but the routes I'd usually use were blocked by fallen trees. There are tiles being blown off rooves here and still very very blustery. Stay safe everyone!

Glad you made it back home safely Timtam :) it sounds like rather a journey.

OYBBK I had offered to fetch DS2 from nursery on my way home, to save DH from going out but he said he'd go (we only have the 1 car) - just as well, as I would never have made it. The traffic was moving so slowly on the motorway & I felt fairly ok driving there, even given the high winds. The bit of the M60 I drive on is quite exposed. If anything it was worse on the side roads where there was more debris flapping around and cars racing through standing water. Hopefully it will be less hectic tomorrow morning.

I am still inching slowly north and getting hopeful that I might reach my bed tonight! Sounds as if the winds have died down a little so hoping in an hour or so I'll be ok to drive home for. preston....no fallen ees as far as I can tell...thanks OyBBJ and everyone else for your info and help, it's been a very very long afternoon/evening!

It should be a lot better tomorrow weather wise. I'd be maybe waiting til daylight before travelling so you can see what's down.

X-post bobbinogs, not recommending you wait til tomorrow. You need your bed and a nice glass of wine and a hot water bottle.

The checkout lady in Sainsburys was saying how the veg prices will start to go up soon, which I kind of realised anyway. Farmers must be in despair.

They really must be.

I hope you all have safe journeys, to anybody out and about.

In laws' flight is cancelled now. :-/

I'm not surprised, as the plane they should've been on got diverted to Glasgow and then didn't make it to Manchester.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Hope they have somewhere comfortable to spend the night, Hungry.

Plane landing was a bit bouncy but on way home now.

Barton Bridge and Thelwall Viaduct still closed. They were both due to reopen at 22:00 but this has now been put back to 0:00.

There is still stationary traffic going all the way through Warrington.

That's good chased :)

Sorry hungry, I hope they can get on one tomorrow.

I'm going to have very limited access to the Internet tomorrow til late. I will probably be able to check in to see if people are ok but I won't be able to issue forecasts. I hope that in the light of day things aren't as bad as they've seemed but travel with care til you know.

Did your dh Make it back ok? I might have lost track a little.

Apparently it's utter chaos at the airport while they're waiting for a hotel to be found. Not good.

But at least they're warm and dry, so it could be worse!

I can imagine. Are the camera crews there?

Don't know...DH hasn't said.

Apparently one bloke kicked off right royally, kicked his wife and then stormed off, with her chasing after him shouting and crying! Bonkers behaviour.

If the cameras are there my in laws won't be trying to get on TV!

:( that sounds very stressful. I hope they can get some rest tonight.

I'm up near Blackpool and the only people outdoors are the camera crews! It is still blowing a hooley up here and there sounds to be quite a bit of damage outside, we have heard a few tiles and bits come off the house

Hungry I think I'd sooner be anywhere on the ground than in a plane in this wind!

Me too. It's not the weather for driving to 'rescue' them either, and they need to remain close by really as if they fly at midday, they'll have to be back at 9.

Good job they're going for over 4 weeks, so a day's delay won't ruin the trip, just make it an annoying start.

Ha, me too, Pis. Some people have no sodding logic!

We are just down the coast. It still sounds quite loud out there, though I think the gusts are slightly less frequent now.

I'm off to bed, anyway, so I can lie down and listen to it instead of sit on the sofa doing the same!

Anyone planning to drive anytime soon, do check the Traffic England website (or wales/Scotland as apt) - I've never seen such a sea of closed signs.

Midday flight to Dubai out of manchester sounds like its the giant A380... Not sure if thats better or worse to take off in, if its still a bit windy tomorrow!

The M56 round the airport still looks a nightmare. Delays of an hour still.