Storm Bert Affects South West with Wind and Rain; Authorities Issue Warnings and Advice

Authorities are urging individuals to limit driving to essential journeys as Storm Bert affects the South West region. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings, indicating strong winds and heavy rainfall, which are in effect for Devon and Cornwall until Sunday evening. Concurrently, hundreds of residences throughout Devon and Cornwall are experiencing power outages, and several flood alerts have been activated. Devon and Cornwall Police have stated that flooding is anticipated and have requested motorists to consider the necessity of their travel. Chief Inspector Dean Drury commented, “There is always that concern that there maybe flood water on the road, debris on the road, or there may even be trees that have fallen.” Furthermore, Devon County Council has advised the public to stay away from exposed coastal paths and locations where significant waves could present a safety hazard. Chief Inspector Drury confirmed that police personnel have received briefings and will maintain a strong presence throughout the storm. He stated, “We are not saying absolutely do not drive, but we are saying if you think you don’t need to drive then it might be more sensible not to.” He continued, “We would always err on the side of caution and not make that journey if it’s not necessary. If you do have to go out, reduce speed, remember there could be debris on the road and other hazards.” He further advised motorists to assess the depth of any substantial puddles or inundated roadways. “If you are unsure, we would always advise not to drive through any form of flood water especially if you expect it to be more than 10cm of four inches deep,” he cautioned, adding, “Fast moving water is also very powerful and could sweep your car away.” According to the Met Office, wind speeds reaching up to 69mph (111km/h) were registered at Berry Head. Roisin Quinn, the distribution operations director for the National Grid, advised the public to avoid any fallen or compromised power lines or other electrical network apparatus and to report such incidents by dialing 105. She expressed, “We’d like to thank customers for their patience as our teams work tirelessly in challenging conditions to restore power to those affected by Storm Bert.” For updates, follow BBC Cornwall and BBC Devon on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.