An amber weather warning for severe gales and heavy rain has been issued with Storm Ciaran set to bring 85mph winds accompanied by 50mm of rainfall.
IW Met Service says that the exact track of the storm is still somewhat uncertain, but the latest data suggests a very close call with the strongest of the winds just skimming the South Coast – which includes the Isle of Wight.
The system will begin to affect the Island later on Wednesday evening as a large area of very heavy rain pushes in from the Southwest with 40-50mm of rainfall possible in some spots. This will be accompanied by a severe Southeasterly gale, gusting to around 70-80mph in places.
The 2nd and potentially more severe spell develops through Thursday morning and lasts until mid-afternoon. During this 2nd spell there is a chance that West-Southwesterly winds gusting up to 80-85mph could hit the region.
Although at present it seems the most likely places to be affected would be the Southern and Southwestern coasts of the Island, there is significant uncertainty to where the system will end up as the 2nd spell of severe winds may miss the Island entirely.
Jamie Russell, Chief Forecaster at IW Met Service, says:
“It should be noted that if this storm travels just 30 miles further north we could potentially see winds even stronger than expected, whereas 30 miles further south than the current projections would mean that the strongest winds stay well to our south and we would just have to tend with more heavy rainfall.
“So we will update this warning again later today as more data becomes available”.
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The warning is in force from 21:00 on Wednesday 1st November until 18:00 on Thursday 2nd November.
Islanders should be aware of severe wind gusts potentially damaging buildings and property, with falling tree debris also a risk.
Storm surge will lead to flooded roads near the coast – especially overnight. Further flooding of rivers and streams due to excessive rainfall falling onto already saturated ground is to be expected also.
Dangerous driving conditions are to be expected with cancellations and delays cross-Solent travel likely.
Information on flooding and what you can do to protect your home can be found here.
Before the storm
• Secure loose objects such as wheelie bins, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing and break them
• Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the house, and especially large doors such as those on garages
• Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences
• Be aware of potential hazards nearby
During the storm
• Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary and stay indoors as much as possible
• If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
• Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences – if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
• Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
• If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
• Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
• Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle
Island Echo will be keeping you up to date with all the latest traffic and travel information, emerging stories and data from weather forecasters throughout Wednesday and Thursday…
Gabion Cages are good if your stone garden wall is blown down.
Least less dingy arrivals but sadly only postponed
At least the sponging young and the older feral brats ‘excuse’ to smash and vandalise ‘Trick or treat’ low life will be less likely to appear at your door on the scrounge. Most of them are kept by our taxes via Universal Credit, child allowance, child tax credit, extra help with food and heating with free or cheap rent and council tax, so BUY YOUR OWN TREATS as WE are already keeping you.
Do you have children? Did you not allow them to trick or treat? You sound like a right barrel of laughs…
Children enjoy Halloween just as much as they enjoyed penny for the guy back in the day.
Penny for the guy was on the streets of our towns, it didn’t involve knocking on doors of the elderly that are venerable and ill people…
I did penny for the guy in the sixties, and we were creative, that impressed shoppers, if you didn’t put your heart into your creation you would receive less money…
I have always told my children that we only knock on doors where the owners have decorated the garden ….. like a welcome mat … you know come knock and get a treat…… you are a misery and I am not on the dole or a sponger … luckily I own my own house and run my own business….. a case of bah humbug I think …..
What are you taking about? Using the weather as an excuse for a nasty rant!
The RNLI will still operate it’s taxi service, with the help of the French….Never mind, our veterans will stay on the cold wet streets with no help….We live in a disgusting country…
CIARAN ??? What is that? If it is a name how do you pronounce it??
“Kieran” but you have to pretend to be a dyslexic subhuman
Dyslexic “subhuman”? Are you looking in the mirror?….
Ciaran, yes it’s a boy’s name . Irish and can also be spelt Kieran. Pronounced Keeran,
C.I.A ran is the correct pronunciation
Since we’re all gonna die from “global warming” apparently, guess I’ll just go neck myself lmao
Can’t even say it let alone worry about it.
More morronic bollocks ..its winter last year and before hardly any rain..by may have a hosepipe ban…