Millions of people across UK have been advised to stay indoors as the country braces for winds up to 90mph from Storm Darragh. On Friday, the Cabinet Office issued an emergency alert for areas covered by the Met Office’s rare red wind warning. This affects parts of Wales and South-West England. The message urges people to avoid driving and to remain indoors. The Met Office’s red warning, the most severe type, was issued for Friday. The alert is in effect from 3 am to 11 am on Saturday, with the […]
Millions Urged To Seek Shelter As Storm Darragh Approaches With 90mph Winds
Millions of people across UK have been advised to stay indoors as the country braces for winds up to 90mph from Storm Darragh. On Friday, the Cabinet Office issued an emergency alert for areas covered by the Met Office’s rare red wind warning. This affects parts of Wales and South-West England. The message urges people to avoid driving and to remain indoors.
The Met Office’s red warning, the most severe type, was issued for Friday. The alert is in effect from 3 am to 11 am on Saturday, with the highest winds expected along the coasts and hills of West and South Wales. Gusts up to 90mph are predicted, though the winds are expected to start easing by late morning. The Cabinet Office’s emergency alert system has sent notifications to all compatible mobile phones in the affected areas.
Whereas a separate amber warning has been issued as well for larger areas along the west coast of the UK. The areas include southern Scotland, Cornwall, Northern Ireland, and parts of Wales, from 1 am to 9 pm. The storm is expected to bring flying debris, fallen trees, large waves, and damage to buildings. Roads, railways, and bridges may be closed, with transport delays, including ferry cancellations and flight disruptions. The storm’s impact could also lead to widespread power outages and communication disruptions as well.
Read More: Africa: A Mysterious Flu-Like Illness Claims 79 Lives
In addition to strong winds, Storm Darragh is bringing heavy rain, with more than 100 flood warnings across the country. An amber rain warning is in effect in Wales on Saturday from 3 am to 6 pm. Moreover, rain up to 90mm is also possible in some areas. South and mid-Wales are particularly vulnerable to flooding. This could end up disrupting transport and infrastructure as well. Also Deputy First Minister of Wales Huw Irranca-Davies has advised residents to exercise extreme caution this weekend.
The storm has led to the cancellation of several events in the UK. Stena Line has warned of disruptions to sailings, and Bristol Airport has said it expects delays. National Rail has advised travelers to check their journeys carefully, as the storm is likely to cause cancellations and delays across the entire rail network. Chiltern Railways has also advised passengers to travel only if necessary, as only one train per hour will operate on most routes.
In addition, several popular attractions are closing due to safety concerns. Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire will be closed on Saturday, and various royal parks in London, including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, will not open. Several football matches and horse racing events have been postponed, and Christmas markets in Belfast have also been canceled.
While the storm’s primary impact will be from high winds, minor flooding is also expected in parts of the North East and West Midlands. Since the Met Office began issuing red warnings in 2011, only 20 such warnings have been issued, typically one or two each year.
