Overview
- Yellow warnings for wind and rain are in force for Thursday, covering large parts of southern and eastern England, the South West, Wales, the Midlands, London and the North East.
- Forecasters expect widespread gusts of 45–55 mph with 65–75 mph possible very locally near coasts, raising risks of power outages, transport delays and dangerous coastal waves.
- Heavy rain is forecast with totals widely 20–30 mm and 30–50 mm in places, with up to 50 mm possible in a few hours in parts of Surrey and East Sussex, bringing a risk of local flooding.
- Preparedness guidance includes securing loose outdoor items, charging devices, and assembling emergency or flood kits with essentials such as torches, spare batteries and key documents.
- The system’s exact track and intensity remain uncertain, so warnings may be updated, and local forecasts indicate prolonged rainfall in some areas such as North Staffordshire.