Storm Darragh

[Frozensnowflake]

winds of 80mph are predicted to hit parts of Ireland and the UK over Friday and Saturday. I’m north wales and we’re looking at winds of around 72mph on Saturday according to the met office. Lots of local events have been cancelled. Anyone else potentially affected by the storm?

I have never driven in 70mph winds but I’m guessing it’s very much not advisable?

If you take it steady it's ok. I drove in storm Eunice and it was fine.
Maybe avoid any country roads with big trees if you can

We've got 45mph sustained wind speeds and gusts of 68mph forecast for my area, yellow warnings for both rain and wind. I'm working night shifts the next 4 nights and the local roads always flood during heavy rain so I'm allowing myself extra time to get to work.

We also have of lot of trees nearby already damaged from the last storm and weight of the snow last month so I'm hoping these won't fall onto the roads or power lines but I've put fresh batteries in all the torches just in case.

A small part of me hopes it blows down the tree in the garden so I don't need to cut it down when I'm off next week

East coast.

Gusts of 67mph forecast.
Not looking forward to it.

It's not fun driving in strong winds. I'm terrified every lorry will blow over that I pass for a start. Feels like the wheels being pulled out your hands but you can't compensate for it as it comes in gusts. Drive slower and be alert. Not as bad as driving rain.

Just looking on the map looks like quite prolonged storm starting late Friday and going on until late Sunday here on the south coast winds for Saturday are predicted to be in excess of 60mph

The long period could increase the risk of power cuts and damage,but to be fair some storms are predicted to be bad and don't turn out to be that bad.

If this storm is had bad as the weather maps say it's going to have an effect for at least a few days

Very windy in West Wales now but then we have a lull before the main storm hits tomorrow. With the wind and copious rain we've had this afternoon I don't hold out much hope for the trees or the power. Making sure we have lots of charged up gadgets and actual books/water/food I can cook on the hob for the next 48 hours.

Just checked and we have gusts of 85 actual miles per hour overnight into Saturday. Super happy to be renovating a house on a river near the coast right now 🤦🏻‍♀️. Thank god the scaffolding went this week at least.

We are west of Wales too. We have a woodburner so in the morning will be making sure we have plenty of wood indoors to keep it running incase of a power cut. Everything is on charge and have put new batteries in everything. Lucky we have a gas hob too so at least we can cook a little. I can’t see us escaping this without a power cut so we are as ready as we can be for one. It’s quite scary 🫣

We're supposed to be travelling from south England to Swansea tmrw night. First part of our journey is all rural, dark, bendy roads. Second part is all M4 down into swansea. Looking to travel about 5pm arriving about 8.30/9pm. With small children.

I'm not sure we should go. What does everyone think if you don't mind me asking? I never used to be cautious but having children has changed that a bit!

We are north east wales. Weather went insane earlier with hail and crazy wind but then calmed down and is just rain and wind now. It looks like it will get a lot worse tomorrow and Saturday. I’m supposed to be going out on Saturday evening which I’ve been so looking forward to but I think I’ll be a bit scared to drive in the winds. @Mumbleitsoftly I would also be feeling worried about the drive.

we have no gas hob so we’re a bit screwed if the electric goes. I think I’ll charge up the one power bank we have and go to the shop tomorrow for bread. Our power lines are underground and we’ve been fine in the past so hopefully we don’t have a power cut. I’m concerned about flooding though- we’ve had so much of it round where I live lately. My house is fine as it’s on a hill but so many others have been flooded and roads have been closed for days with it recently as rivers burst their banks

DP needs to fly from London to Belfast tomorrow morning - do you think flights will be cancelled?

I don’t know- Ireland looks like it’s set to be hit quite badly. What times the flight?

11am

There's now a red warning for west Wales.

https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2024-12-07&id=741dabc8-ad97-476a-bd24-1683cea8198b

I just saw that on my news app. My area is too far east to be in it so I’m in the amber still. Hope everyone in the west stays safe

@ImRonBurgandy now that it’s a red warning which is danger to life I would be surprised if the flight goes ahead but I am not in any way knowledgeable about these things so I could be wrong

Such bad timing - he has to be home for a funeral! Hopefully if they cancel he can get his booking moved.

I make this Journey often and TBH I’ve realised that it’s best not to do it on a Friday pm at the very best of times.

It’s usually ok ish until about Bristol, and at the junction of M5 M32 etc onwards it is an utter nightmare. If the storm is as predicted the Severn bridge likely to be closed.

it’s not a journey I would be doing TBH.

@Donttellempike thank you, I've done the journey 100s of times as our families all live in south Wales but it was more the storm I was getting nervous about! I never would have thought about it before kids tbh.

Hopping on as we’re near the Brecon Beacons. I’d planned to go out with the DCs tomorrow but am thinking twice. 65mph winds from 5am here.

I wouldn’t, tbh. Not with small children. Not worth the risk. Even a breakdown or holdup in weather that bad is stressful. Is it important or can it be postponed?

We’re battening down the hatches atm. DH is nailing down the shed roof.

@GinaDreamsofRunningAway I am very VERY jealous of your woodburner right now!

Bit anxious now, got lots of outside stuff due to building work and glass balcony down to the river. I guess if it all gets broken the builders are there and can sort it out on Monday 🤷🏻‍♀️. At least it's not a school day, last time there was a red warning I was well clued up due to OYBBK but the school weren't and decided to send everyone home on the buses at the peak of the high winds

Fingers crossed all red warning people, I hope we keep the internet at least, I've charged everything up and dowloaded lots of stuff and charged the power banks. Lots of hob food and packets of matches and candles, not much else to be done I suppose but wait and see. Why does it all happen at night in the dark, ugh.

London looks ok but the Belfast airport forecast ATM has a high chance of it gusting up to 60 knots (roughly 70 mph) at times tomorrow AM up until noon or a bit later.

The only saving grace is the wind direction is almost aligned with the runway but those sort of windspeeds can screw ground operations, not just the flying side of things.

The forecast might evolve and improve but it’s definitely a case of keeping an eye on what the airline are saying.

Good Luck…

In the red zone here, west Wales coast. We're totally dependent on the electricity for heating and cooking but my sister in the next village has a wood burner so we can decamp there if necessary. (Not that I think it's going to be cold.)

I've been out and secured the garden; nothing much else to do except lie the wheely bin down and make sure I know where the candles are..

Will charge up power banks and get food which doesn't need cooking out of the freezer.

Yellow warnings feel like they happen every other week here in the winter and orange aren't that unusual so we are sometimes in danger of being a bit blasé but this does look like it's going to be a proper hoolie.

@JustAMiddleAgedDirtBagBaby we’re just in the eastern edge of the red warning. Likewise we carry on as normal in yellow warning but this is the first time a red warning has come as far as us.