Amber warning issued for south east as Storm Eunice predicted to cause significant disruption

Rare Red Warning now issued for south west coastal areas

February 17, 2022 Kathy Bailes News 11

Fierce waves at Ramsgate Photo Malcolm Kirkaldie

An amber warning has been issued for the south east by the Met Office as Storm Eunice may cause significant disruption due to extremely strong winds on Friday.

The Met Office says there is a good chance that flying debris could result in a danger to life.

Damage to buildings and homes is likely, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down. Roads, bridges and railway lines are likely to close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights.

There is a good chance that power cuts, possibly prolonged, could occur, perhaps affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

 

Large waves are likely and beach material is likely to be thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, and flooding of some coastal properties also seems likely. It is likely there will be falling branches and some uprooted trees.

A rare Red Weather Warning has now been issued for the south west coastal areas of the UK, where the most significant gusts in exposed areas could be in excess of 90mph from early Friday morning. Further inland and within the wider Amber Warning area, winds will still be significant and damaging for many, with 70-80mph gusts possible.

As a safety precaution because of the forecast, there will be a 50mph speed restriction across most of the Southeastern network (except High Speed services) from the start of service until at least 6pm and some trains will be cancelled.

 

Due to the probability of trees and debris being blown on to the tracks, disruption on all Southeastern routes is highly likely. It is recommended that travellers consider postponing their journey or working from home if possible.

If you’ve already bought your ticket for Friday you can use it today or on Saturday at no extra cost or apply for a refund.

The warning is in place from 5am to 9pm tomorrow.update

11 Comments

  1. The most dire warnings are for the South West.
    But it’s quite likely to be bad here, too.
    But what are we actually supposed to do? What happens if, in the worst case, my roof blows off?

  2. What you can do. Check your insurance policy, are your roof and other bits covered? If so in what way, such as temporary housing?
    Any stuff not tied down, garden furniture and the like.
    Dodgy trees?
    Any unstable masonry, free standing walls for example.
    Lots of stuff we can do!

  3. Won’t be as bad as that one in 1987 apparently. They haven’t said anything about a hurricane on it’s way. Let’s hope not anyway.

  4. In 1987 storm whilst working on a ward at Kent and Canterbury hospital at 2am a large section of newly installed double glazing windows blew out and crashed 35 feet to the ground, patients screaming pandemonium all the lights went out the only lights we had was from our pen torches, patients belongings that were on their lockers were being sucked out of the huge opening where the windows once were and the hospital emergency generator failed to come on. I arrived home in Ramsgate at 11am after being delayed by fallen trees to find half our roof was missing. It was worse than a nightmare one wakes up from them this was for real.

    • Like you, I was working, a 12hr night shift in a large Ammo Compound (military establishment) in a remote rural location outside of Rochester. I’m locked in for the whole night with just a military guard dog for company! One could hear the trees snapping like matchsticks. I could hear corrugated metal sheets flapping away making a dreadful noise, not sure whereabouts though. It was one hell of a scary night and when I finally got home my neighbour’s gable end had completely fallen away exposing their loft. So not looking forward to Eunice🙄

  5. I remember that night so well 34years ago i was pregnant with my son I went into labour 3 days later on my way to margate hospital I was looking at all the devastation that had been caused roofs down the maternity homes for nurses that used to be chimley tops all gone

Comments are closed.