Met Office Issues Amber Warning for Storm Darragh in Western England

Storm Darragh, designated by the Met Office as the fourth named storm of the current autumn and winter season, is expected to bring gales or severe gales to the West Country and the rest of England from late Friday afternoon, continuing through Friday night and into Saturday. This weather system is anticipated to cause some disruption. An amber warning for powerful winds has been issued for the western areas of the region, valid from 03:00GMT to 21:00GMT on Saturday. Concurrently, a yellow warning for strong winds covers the entire region, active from 15:00GMT on Friday through to early Sunday. While the entire West Country will experience impacts to different extents, primarily from wind and somewhat from rain, specific areas of Somerset appear vulnerable to exceptionally strong wind gusts. Separately, strong winds originating from a distinct low-pressure system that developed Thursday afternoon and overnight are also under a yellow warning from the Met Office. Storm Darragh, however, is projected to arrive later on Friday afternoon, introducing intensifying winds initially from the south to south-west. As Friday evening progresses into the night and early Saturday, the wind direction is forecast to shift, becoming more westerly and subsequently north-westerly. Wind strength is expected to reach its maximum during this period. Meteorological computer models predict that areas of Somerset adjacent to the Bristol Channel are likely to encounter wind gusts surpassing 50 to 60mph, with exposed sites potentially experiencing gusts ranging from 70 to 80mph. These powerful gusts are most anticipated across portions of west Somerset, extending eastward into Bridgwater Bay, and encompassing neighboring areas including the Sedgemoor district and north Somerset. The Met Office’s amber warning underscores the elevated risk of destructive wind gusts in these specific areas. Hazardous crosswinds could affect certain sections of the M5 across Somerset and north Somerset during late Friday evening and overnight. A similar risk is anticipated for parts of the M4 as the wind shifts to a more north-westerly direction later and into early Saturday. Disruption to other forms of transport is also possible, along with potential power outages in various locations. In contrast to Storm Bert, which caused extensive flooding on 23 and 24 November, Storm Darragh’s primary threat to the West Country is expected to be strong winds. Despite the focus on wind, rainfall associated with Darragh could still lead to issues, particularly due to existing flood vulnerabilities. Between 15 to 25mm of rain is forecast from Friday to Sunday, with Exmoor potentially receiving significantly higher amounts. It is highly probable that Storm Bert has already compromised or damaged certain trees and structures, rendering them especially susceptible. This vulnerability could be intensified once the strong winds transition to a north-westerly direction overnight Friday into Saturday. Trees typically exhibit greater resilience to winds from the south-west to west, which they frequently encounter. However, uncommonly strong winds from less common directions can impose additional stress on trees, thereby increasing the likelihood of damage or toppling. The public is advised to monitor Met Office warnings, as updates and revisions to forecasts for Friday and the weekend are always possible. For further updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding the BBC’s external linking policy is available.