Overview
- The Met Office has placed a yellow wind warning in force from 12am to 12pm on Friday 23 October covering large parts of southern England and much of Wales.
- Forecasts show widespread gusts of 50–60 mph with some exposed coastal locations possibly exceeding 70 mph, but forecasters stress uncertainty over exactly where the strongest gusts will fall.
- Officials warn the winds could blow tiles and loose debris from buildings, create a danger to life on coasts from large waves and thrown beach material, and cause road, rail, air and ferry disruption.
- The Met Office and local authorities advise securing loose items, gathering torches and power banks, checking travel timetables and using local gust maps to plan journeys and protective actions.
- Meteorologists say this event is driven by an Atlantic low bringing wetter, windier autumn weather after a dry spell, that the risk has a low likelihood but a potentially significant impact, and that winds should ease by late morning into early afternoon.