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?

It's very wild now here in South County Cork and we're not in a red area.

I have taken the warning seriously (Vale of Glamorgan) and cancelled my spin class for the morning.

i will fill some bottles and the bath with water.

power packs are on charge.

nowhere to move the cars to away from trees and other houses so keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

trying to get 18 year old DS home, very frustrating…..

This is quite a nice website, though it doesn't show obs for Ireland.
http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/obs_viewer.php
You need to set it to max hourly gust in the main field and convert from kts to mph.
Wind hasn't really picked up yet compared to where it will be. The usual extreme site Capel Curig has reached 73 mph, but Pembrey Sands is showing at 52mph. There aren't sites that really cover the South Wales, Bristol Channel area where there is some concern.

I'm in Mayo, just south of Westport - and it's mad here right now! I'm rather enjoying it - DH is fast asleep in his chair by the telly :)

Wind is building here.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I can't get your link to work.
Nice to have you back (even if it is only for a few days). 😺

I did forget to say, that if you are in a red warning area, and you've not had friday night wine and it is safe to do so, moving cars a bit down any driveways so that roof tiles don't land on them can save a bit of grief. If you read this in the morning, don't go outside to do so!

It was a bit slow for me. I think the server might be overloaded (and I've probably not helped!)

I wonder how many inflatable Santas will fly away tonight. There's about five in gardens in my street.

We’re meant to be driving from London to Bedford tomorrow.. it’s only a yellow zone but not sure whether to postpone? It’s a day we’ve been looking forward to but also not the end of the world if we miss it! Plus we have a one month old… :-/

Eerie calm here at the minute it's been a strange day! Eerie calm this morning, wild this afternoon, currently back to eerie calm. Storm is due to land after 1am here but we were able to meet friends for dinner and are now tucked in with the Late Late Toy Show. Christmas has officially begun!

I'm on the coast going into the Bristol channel. The sea defence gates have been shut but our garden backs onto the beach so that won't help much.

I've had 3 alerts so far and was hoping to go to bed - what time do they stop?

I've got things charged and gave up looking for the torches (recently moved house so who knows where they are).

I think I'll fill a flask just in case. Is there anything else I should do? It's absolutely horrendous out there at the moment.

@OhYouBadBadKitten Yup, twas a bit slow to load.

I've been looking at one of your old recommendations -
Meteociel - Real-time wind gust observations in United Kingdom
It's reporting gusts of 118km/h at Capel Curig already. 😱

Looking at one of the charts mentioned by the poster above, @Inextremis and it gives gusts of 140kph (about 90 mph) in Galway, it looks like. Could that be right? 😱

I was about to mention that reading in Galway - insane! Hoping PP a little way up in Co Mayo is hanging on tight...

Yes, that seems possible.

Co Mayo looking blowy 😱

https://x.com/fergusmasuibhne/status/1865150370952945799?s=61&t=haffcpWC9mwmf6zkaHVRIg

Knock airport is I think not a million miles away from that reporting point and they do have gusts of up to 65 knots in their forecast for the next few hours.

That’s roughly 75 mph, or 120 km/h, so I’d say 140 km/h on an exposed headland is credible.

The Galway reading was at Mace Head. As @notimagain says, it is very exposed there.

We were in the theatre when the alerts started going off. Not all at the same time either!

We had to walk back to the car after the show alongside the marina which was pretty wild. Very noisy.

I wouldn't be surprised at 90 km/h - it's fierce windy out there right now - opened the front door (thought I might take a quick video if there was any light to see by) and the loft hatch blew open :). I shut the door PDQ. Amazed that we still have power - am off to bed in a min - the red warning's in place until 3 am, so I'm quite looking forward to snuggling under the duvet and listening to it. Hope everyone stays safe!

Just checking the forecast and the red warning for here is 3am-11am. I dread to think how much worse it can get as it's pretty grim out there at the moment.

I'm due to travel into Bristol tomorrow evening for a concert. The alert will be amber by then. Should I cancel my plans or wait to see how tomorrow pans out? Apologies for the questions, I've never experienced a red alert before as I've always lived inland.

North Mayo here. It's getting rowdy out there! Got myself a hot whiskey made pronto as the lights are flickering...

I would play it safe. I'd much rather be over cautious than regretful....

Put anything valuable higher up out of the way of flooding?
Pack a bag in case you need to evacuate?
Find your insurance docs and phot/email to self.