‘Severe’ amber weather warning in place as Storm Henk batters Bristol

An amber weather warning with gusts of up to 80 mph has been issued by the Met Office for the Bristol area as Storm Henk batters the region.

The Met Office says Storm Henk will bring a spell of very strong winds, causing disruption to travel and utilities.

The severe amber warning means there is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

An amber warning also means there is likely to be some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.

The Met Office warning warns people that longer journey times and cancellations are likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected.

Flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life. Some roads and bridges likely to close.

Storm Henk will bring a spell of very strong winds to parts of the UK leading to potential disruption to travel and infrastructure.

An area of low pressure crossing southern regions of the UK, will bring an area of very strong winds throughout Tuesday.

Initially the strongest gusts will be focused around southwest England and south Wales during the late morning and early afternoon. Here gusts of up to 80mph are possible in exposed coastal locations.

As the low pressure moves north-eastwards the strongest wind gusts also move eastwards across the UK with many parts of southern England, the south Midlands and East Anglia experiencing 50-60mph gusts through the afternoon and evening. Inland gusts could reach up to 60-70mph in one or two places for a time.

The amber severe weather warning is in place through to 8pm this evening. A wider Yellow severe weather warning for wind covers the whole of southern England and Wales.

A Yellow warning for rain covers a wide area of England and Wales as further rain moves in through the day. Rainfall totals are likely to reach 15-30mm with 35-50mm in a few places.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen, said: “Further wet and windy weather is forecast for the UK this week. Our latest analysis of the forecast shows an increase in the likelihood of very strong wind gusts across parts of southern Wales and England which is why we have issued this Amber warning this morning and named Storm Henk.

“Storm Henk will initially bring very strong winds to the southwest of England and Southern Wales, with gusts of up to 80mph possible. As Storm Henk moves north-eastwards across the south of the UK through Tuesday the strongest winds will also move eastwards, across the south Midlands, Home Counties and East Anglia through the afternoon and evening.”

The weather across the UK is forecast to remain unsettled through this week with westerly Atlantic conditions in charge. As we move through the weekend and into next week there are early signs of higher pressure developing which would settle the weather down and bring a spell of lower temperatures.