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?

I'm in the red zone and while it was a very noisy night there doesn't seem to be much damage outside, apart from next door's fence panel and some bricks from their wall have gone. Very relieved!

Glad to hear it looks ok so far.

That must be a great relief.

The river here is quite flooded already this morning, it’s broken its banks further than usual, and we have an amber warning for rain today. Lashing down at the moment.

A Delta from (I think) DFW has been diverted after 3 failed attempts. Poor passengers, they’re probably bound for Brussels now!

That gives me hope.

Just gone to survey the damage and it looks like my fence is about to snap and flop over 😭

Just had my red alert! South Wiltshire.
Very strong winds here at the moment!

3 of my cats are out. My neighbours car alarm went off at 6am and finally stopped at 8am.
All kids classes cancelled.

Inland west Somerset here, red warning overnight, power off since 2am and expected back by 6pm, but our fences and trees are still up and apparently all local roads are clear.

Well we had very little sleep last night. I got myself all cozy and wrapped up and thought, 'lovely can't wait to go to sleep listening to the wind and the rain' but oh my goodness not like that weather! The wind must have swung round a bit and the window corner of my bedroom has been HAMMERED all night, like a train or crazy wild animal, so noisy!

Anyway, no electricity for us today, thank goodness for my prepper instincts so we have matches for the hob and lots of food I can cook in pans. I did try and open the front door out of curiosity and will not be trying that again in the next 8 hours

Wild night in London - can’t imagine what it would have been like in the red zone. Luckily damage so far is just a bit of felt off the roof of my shed.

Same here, in a village near swansea. Wonder if we're in the same one. Luckily, we haven't had a power cut. Fingers crossed it stay that way.

Well that was a shit night's sleep! (i.e about 2 hours) Wind like I've never heard or felt from inside the house, and the sky flashing like strobe lightening over the Preselis.

West Wales, red zone here.. 3 trees down in the garden, power went off at 2.45 a.m and text from national grid says it's off till 7 tonight

I literally can't stand upright outside to look up or down the road for trees down etc ..or check my roof .
It's gonna be a very long dark scary day! No let up yet .

Hope my fellow West Wales MNers are ok!! x

Ah @lostinwales good morning! Glad you're ok!
Didn't see your post as my phone is taking forever to load unsurprisingly

That was a very noisy night! I'm amazed the power is still on!

Well that was a shite nights sleep. It's hideous out there. Social media full of fallen trees and cancelled / closed events. Huge fucking respect to anyone who has to be out in this: care workers, emergency services and whoever clears trees from roads. Also to call handling centres.

@Jellykat that was a wild WILD night! Sorry about your trees. We have a fence that has blown across the garden taking some metal fencing with it but easily replaced tomorrow. Anyone actually going outside round here must be genuinely crazy. Not woken my teen yet as the longer he doesn't know about the power being out the easier my day will be

Same here @lostinwales DS2 and girlfriend are still asleep, he's going to go nuts when he realizes there's no electric.. praying he charged up his laptop and phone last night as I suggested!

Currently in the red zone too (Somerset coast). Garden looks mostly ok apart from some random debris. The majority of the fence is still standing - for now.

There's a few trees down here, but I didn't see too much other damage while taking the dog out. Lots of dog walkers in open spaces today!

Wind is picking up here in Leeds now.

Oh dear, DS got up and went straight for a shower. I forgot to tell him there is no hot water tank in this house we are renting so the water is heated electrically. Still, he's VERY awake now . Apparently he had 4 more of those terrifying alerts through the night too, poor boy!

I'm still in bed in my nightie as I can't go anywhere, there's no heating and I've a whippet tucked under the covers in their traditional use as a hot water bottle. This could be a lot worse.

Not woken my teen yet as the longer he doesn't know about the power being out the easier my day will be.

So true. Forget about the cooker, the washing machine and the central heating, and if half the roof is missing and there's a tree blocking the road, meh, but if the wifi is off, that's a disaster.

I'm starting to wonder if north Hampshire should be amber. It's quite bad here. I managed to get out for a run (avoiding trees, scaffolding etc) and the wind was taking my breath away at times. Reported a fallen tree.

Cursed residents who don't bring their green wheelie bins in so cans and paper are being blown around the streets.

So windy and rainy here in Flintshire and soo much flooding in my town.