Storm Darragh: Millions sent emergency alert after rare red weather warning

The Met Office has warned of damage to homes, buildings and power lines, as Storm Darragh approaches with winds of up to 90mph – ITV News' Wales Reporter Rhys Williams has the latest from Swansea

Three million people in the UK have been urged to stay indoors and avoid driving as Storm Darragh is expected to hit some areas with winds of up to 90mph this weekend.

A rare red weather warning, issued by the Met Office for the Welsh coast, and coastal areas of Somerset and parts of Devon, is in place from 3am on Saturday until 11am. It tells people to expect "danger to life" from flying debris and falling trees.

The Cabinet Office issued an emergency alert at 6.45pm on Friday to every compatible mobile phone in areas covered by the red warning, with around three million people receiving the message.

Phones receiving emergency alerts make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate for about ten seconds, even if they are on silent. The alert contained information about the red warning and guidance on staying safe.

It marked the government's largest-ever use of the warning system outside a test scenario in April 2023.

It is understood residents in: Devon, Bath and North East Somerset, the City of Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Newport received the alert.

The Met Office warned the wind from Storm Darragh will cause damage to buildings, homes, roofs and power lines.

They said there will be "flying debris and falling trees resulting in danger to life." Significant travel disruption is also expected.Roads, bridges and railway lines may be closed, with delays and cancellations likely to bus, train and ferry services and flights.The fourth named storm of the season is also expected to bring heavy rain over the weekend, with more than 100 flood warnings and alerts in place across the UK.

Red warnings present the most severe warning the Met Office has and they are rarely issued more than once a year.

"Red warnings are reserved for very dangerous weather with a high level of certainty. You should take direct action to keep yourself and others safe from impacts of the weather," the Met Office said.

"It’s likely there will be a risk to life, as well as substantial disruption to travel and infrastructure."

National Rail said the whole network was likely to be affected by the storm, and advised passengers to check before they travel in case of cancellations.

Chiltern Railways announced a reduced service of one train per hour on all routes, and advised customers to only travel if necessary. The operator covers destinations from London Marylebone to Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham.

The Welsh Rugby Union has called off all community matches across all age groups. Clubs have been advised to only go ahead with matches "should they feel it is safe to do so". The Football Association of Wales also said all matches in the country were being postponed on Saturday.

Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire said on its website that it would not open on Saturday for safety reasons. In London, all the Royal Parks, Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens will be closed on Saturday.

Belfast City Council said the city’s Christmas market would close on Saturday due to the weather warnings, while the Enchanted Winter Garden events at Antrim Castle Gardens had been cancelled for Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, Merseyside Police have advised against any non-essential travel in the region on Saturday, with an amber weather warning in place.

Once the red warning has expired an amber warning for wind will be in place for most of the west coast of the UK, including all of the Welsh coast and will expire at 9pm on Saturday.

An additional yellow warning for rain will also be in place for Northern Ireland and Wales from 3pm on Friday until 12pm on Saturday. These areas were badly affected by flooding during Storm Bert in late November.

Up to 60mm of rain could fall in these areas during the warning period, which may lead to some flooding and disruption, forecasters say.

The southern Welsh county of Rhondda Cynon Taf, where between 200 and 300 properties were flooded during Storm Bert, is set to be hit by heavy rain once again.

There is also a possibility that snow could hit hilly areas of northern England on Saturday.

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said the weather service is “a bit concerned” about the risk of flooding in parts of Wales and Northern Ireland where there is “heightened sensitivity” due to recent heavy rainfall.

Mr Stroud added: “The wind particularly is set to be reasonably disruptive and potentially quite damaging.

“We are rather concerned about the strength of the winds affecting the Irish sea coasts and this is likely to have impacts on Irish ferry services. Trees could come down onto roads and people need to be aware of this and allow extra time for travel, especially in rural spots.”

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The Met Office added that strong gusts may disrupt travel, likely causing difficult driving conditions.

Another yellow weather warning for wind for all of the UK, except for central and northern Scotland, is also in place from 3pm on Friday until 6am on Sunday.

National Highways, which runs the UK’s motorways and busiest A-roads, has issued a severe weather alert for Saturday and has warned motorists in the South West and North West to prepare for gale-force winds.

It said routes likely to be affected by the strongest winds include the M5 in northern Somerset, the A30 in Cornwall and the M6 in Cheshire.

Severe winds are already affecting travel in parts of the country with the M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire being closed on Thursday night because of gusty weather.

Storm Darragh is due to cross Ireland late on Friday, then parts of England and Wales on Saturday, clearing to the east of England on Saturday night or early Sunday.

The EA said it is carefully monitoring the progress of the storm ahead of the weekend.

Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the EA, said: “EA teams are out on the ground and will support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.”

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