Met Office issues yellow weather warning for North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire
A yellow weather warning has been issued for the north of England, as gales could reach up to 75mph.
The Met Office warning is in place between 6am and 6pm on Friday 17 February, and covers the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
The storm – the first to be named this winter – has been labelled Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and will move east across the far north of the UK from the early hours of Friday morning.
The Met Office has said the high winds will mean travel disruption and possible damage to buildings in places and warned the drivers of high-sided vehicles to be careful.
It said there is also a danger of large waves on the North Sea coast “as well as a chance of some damage to buildings and infrastructure”.
Yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued for the whole of Scotland and a stretch of north and north-east England running from Sheffield to the Scottish border.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page said: “Storm Otto will bring high winds and rain to the UK, with some northern parts of Scotland and the North East of England likely to get the strongest gusts of wind, possibly in excess of 75mph. Warnings have been issued and could be updated as Storm Otto develops.
“There’s a chance of travel disruption and high-sided vehicles could be particularly prone to disrupted plans in this set-up.
“There’s associated rain with Storm Otto, with 40-50mm of rain likely to fall over parts of western Scotland.”
National Highways has produced online guidance on its website for handling different weather conditions to keep road users as safe as possible on its motorways and A-roads.
In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes, so drivers should slow down and avoid using exposed sections of road if possible.
Luke Hindle, National Network Manager at National Highways, said: “With the potential for high winds, it is important to plan ahead for your journey, and if weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour and take extra care.
“We have a section of our website dedicated to travelling amid storms, high winds and gales, and considerations for different types of vehicle, as part of our guide to travelling in severe weather. It’s also a good idea for people to check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns.”
Northern Powergrid, which powers 3.9 million homes and businesses in the affected area, says it is preparing teams to provide support if needed.
It said the weather does have the potential to cause damage, so power supplies could be affected.
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