Weather warning as Storm Angus sweeps into the Anglia region

Area covered by a Met Office yellow weather warning for strong winds on Sunday 20 November 2016. Credit: Met Office

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds and heavy rain in parts of the Anglia region on Sunday 20 November 2016 as the first named storm of the winter season hits Britain.

The Met Office has named it Storm Angus.

The areas affected are parts of Essex and Suffolk.

The warning is valid 2pm on Sunday

The Met Office says people should be aware of the risk of difficult driving conditions due to localised surface water flooding and possible debris from trees.

The Met Office warning states: "A spell of heavy rain and some very strong winds are expected to sweep across southern and southeastern parts of England during Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"Gusts of 45-55 mph are likely inland and 60-65 mph near the coast, but we now expect the strongest winds to affect coastal counties from the Isle of Wight eastwards, where 70-80 mph gusts are possible."

The forecast pressure chart for midday on Sunday 20 November 2016. Credit: Met Office

The Met Office says the warning area has been extended further west and north, but there remains some uncertainty about the exact track of the weather system and therefore the northward extent of any impacts.

A Met Office computer forecast of the wind speed (in knots) and strongest gusts in the Anglia region at 5am on Sunday 20 November 2016. Credit: Met Office
A Met Office computer forecast of the strongest gusts in the Anglia region at 9am on Sunday 20 November 2016. Credit: Met Office

The images above are drawn from a Met Office computer forecast of the wind speeds and strongest gusts expected in the East of England at 5am and 9am on Sunday 20 November 2016.

The red area indicates highest gusts in the range 57-69 miles per hour (50-60 knots) while the orange area suggests gusts of between 46-57 mph (40-50 knots)

Beaufort wind scale

Sustained wind speeds not including gusts

  • Force 4 Moderate breeze - 13 to 18 mph (11-16 knots)

  • Force 5 Fresh breeze - 19 to 24 mph (17-21 knots)

  • Force 6 Strong breeze - 25 to 31 mph (22-27 knots)

  • Force 7 Near gale - 32 to 38 mph (28-33 knots)

  • Force 8 Gale - 29 to 46 mph (34-40 knots)

  • Force 9 Severe Gale - 47 to 54 mph (41-47 knots)