Met Office names 69 UK areas facing power cuts on Saturday and Sunday – full list | Weather | News
The Met Office has identified 69 areas across the UK at risk of power outages as Storm Dave ravages the country this weekend.
The national forecaster has issued two yellow weather warnings for winds from 7pm on Saturday until 3am on Sunday morning, covering North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and parts of the Humber, Scotland and Wales. Winds are widely predicted to reach 60-70 mph, while some coastal and offshore areas could see gusts around 80 mph. The Met Office warned that weather conditions were expected to be “devastating and potentially damaging”, leading to longer journey times and cancellations, road closures, flying debris and damage to buildings.
There’s also a “good chance” that strong winds will cause power outages and disruption of other services, such as cellphone coverage, in areas covered by weather alerts.
The amber warnings come alongside various yellow weather warnings for wind covering the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Wales and parts of northern England.
Winds of 50-60mph are expected in all warning areas and wind speeds will peak at different times as the storm progresses across the north of the UK. Northern Ireland will see the worst weather conditions on Saturday afternoon before the storm spreads more widely north this evening.
The Met Office said: “Very strong winds from the south-west, then westerly, are expected across north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland on Saturday evening and overnight, easing into the early hours of Sunday. “Gusts of 60-70mph are widely possible, with some coastal or offshore areas experiencing winds of around 80mph.
“Driving in these conditions can be dangerous for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do so more safely by taking the following precautions: Drive slowly to minimize the effect of wind, look out for high-sided vehicles/caravans on more open roads and be careful when overtaking and leave more room than usual for cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses.
“Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay inside as much as possible. If you go outside, try not to walk or shelter near buildings and trees. Check for loose items outside your home and secure them ahead of high winds. These include trash cans, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.”
Advice from the Met Office suggests households prepare for devastating weather by securing items around their property, as well as gathering flashlights, batteries, mobile phone power supply and other essential supplies in case of a power outage.
Listed are 69 UK areas under an amber or yellow weather warning for wind that could cause power outages on Saturday and Sunday:
