Weathermen warn: Don't venture outside on Sunday night

Pat Nicholson

Weathermen warn: Don't venture outside on Sunday night
By DAVID WILKES
Last updated at 22:51pm on 7th March 2008

Coastal regions around Britain risk being flooded when winter's biggest storm strikes early next week.

The warning came as it emerged that some of the highest tides of the year will coincide with the severe weather already predicted.

Forecasters said on Thursday that heavy rains and winds of up to 80mph will lash large parts of the country on Monday.

Yesterday, they also warned Britons to stay indoors tomorrow night when the gales are expected to begin and to avoid unnecessary journeys.

The unsettled weather is expected to climax on Monday morning around rush hour when the deepening low-pressure system swings east across the UK.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for much of the UK on Monday.

Brian Golding, head of forecasting, said: "The arrival of this exceptionally deep area of low pressure is expected to coincide with spring tides on Monday, bringing the risk of flooding to western coasts from southern England to northern Scotland."

The storm also brings the risk of disruption to transport and power networks, with winds strong enough to uproot trees and damage buildings, said forecasters.

They warned it "could well be the strongest storm of the winter" but at this stage they are not predicting it will be as severe as that of October 1987.

Meteogroup forecaster Gareth Harvey said: "It looks as though it is going to be strong winds just about everywhere with severe gales in some places.

"We are sure trees will be uprooted and there will be some structural damage if it's as strong as expected."

The storm is forecast to develop from a strong jet stream moving out of Canada today and crossing the Atlantic and the UK during tomorrow and Monday.

The high winds are expected to ease during Monday but increase again in the evening, with fierce gusts after dark in the west and south.

Heavy rain and severe gales are expected across the country

The combination of the storm and high tides means there is a risk of flooding from parts of Sussex in the south, through Devon, Cornwall and south-west Wales right up to the Outer Hebrides.

Tides are always higher at this time of the year as the spring equinox - when day and night are of equal length - approaches. This year's equinox is on March 20.

The spring tides have already led the Environment Agency to put part of north Cornwall from Land's End to Hartland Point on flood watch.

The area from Land's End to Plymouth is already being monitored. Exposed areas and those where the beach has no sea defences are at greater risk.

Last night, an Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely. It's very much a case of wait and see, but we urge people to check weather warnings on local radio and TV bulletins."

Floodline on 0845 988 1188 has the latest flood warnings.

Source: The Daily Mail

Comment: Does that mean I don't have to go to work? Wink

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squarepeg

PONDLIFE

PONDLIFE · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:02 am Post subject:

On a serious note though,I hope the shiney new wobbly box gets gathered in safely!
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Pat Nicholson · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:11 am Post subject:

That's tomorrow morning at 10 am Rob and we'll be having the rest of the day off from the PDA to put everything in it ready to go to Kent on Easter Weekend Very Happy

Pat
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squarepeg · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

If you want to see where the storm is now; take a look here

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_IR.html
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Squarepeg ([])

Can you just ....?

jake · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: wet and windy

OH JOY, Brighton sea front 6.30 am ,250 pedestrian barriers. Cant wait Cool

trackpace · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

Always appeciating that weather is a fickle thing, I listened to the dire predictions ( localised to where I live) made suitable plans and made sure that there really was no need to venture out today. My Mrs did have to go out and I made sure she had woolies, foul weather gear and a plan B for just in case. I reckon I am going to get my ear chewed off later today when her and the walking boots arrive back at Chez moi thinking that I have been taking the proverbial !

I have some sparrows on the roof that are producing more wind than the predicted mighty blow. The trees are budding nicely and not troubled by anything at all.

I know that is not the case everywhere but surely by now the forecasters can do better than what amounts to a general finger in the air guesstimate.

I have just checked the localised forecast again and it still says that I am in fact being buffeted by 60 mph winds.....
Confused

squarepeg · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Fairs fair to them they told us this storm was coming last Thursday or Friday: at which time they had no sure indication of it's actual track across the UK.

The storm front is about 60 miles across and this could have passed over the country anywhere.

I'm in Gloucester and it's no too bad; yet Bristol, just 30 miles south, is geting a buffeting.

The main reason this storm is attracting media intrest is that it's affecting LONDON and the home counties.

The islanders on Orkney are wondering what all the fuss is about; to them this would be nothing more than a bit of a breeze.
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Squarepeg ([])

Can you just ....?

Pat Nicholson · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

Well, I can confirm that the West Country is just a tad widier than 'a finger in the breeze' Waving

I'm parked up tonight on Bridgwater Services praying that it dies down before the morning to go back over the river bridge on the M5 to Avonmouth to load a full load of blue pallets from GKN.

I came down with 11Tonnes on and still had trouble keeping out of the nearsise Gordano Services lane and am happy to 'compare skidmarks' with you Pondie anytime Shocked

Thanks to Ted ( SP) who has consulted his PC for me and Smiffys 'windy farty map', I've had up to date info all day on the end of the phone.....thanks PDA Buddy Wink

To our fitters, who sent out a trailer that was defected last week for a hole in the floor, a rear ratchet missing, and a front ratchet the same side that won't tension, plus 3 straps missing from the other side, for sending it back on the road with ONLY the hole in the floor repaired, may they go to Hell towing this trailer down the M5 with a 60MPH gusting cross wind Mad

Ted has decided I should start at 5am and get to GKN about 6am as that is when the Gloucester Peggy forecast says the wids will be at the least Very Happy

Pat
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You're not finished when you're defeated. You're finished when You Quit.

Chaslad · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

Around Leicester it was quite quite windy early on but it had died down by around 9 a.m. it has been very wet though.
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Pat Nicholson · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

Bet it was brilliant on top of Burrough Hill Wink

Pat
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You're not finished when you're defeated. You're finished when You Quit.

squarepeg · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

Pat Nicholson · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

Good

And if it is, I shall ring you up at 4.30am and tell you Very Happy

I'm up...................so shall you be Witch

Pat
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You're not finished when you're defeated. You're finished when You Quit.

squarepeg · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: