The Met Office urges people not to travel as it issues red weather warning of threat to life due to Storm Darragh

‘STAY home’ is the message from the Met Office for anyone looking to travel to the south west of England tomorrow (Saturday).

As reported in the A&T, the New Forest and Christchurch is expected to be hit by Storm Darragh, with a yellow weather warning of strong winds and heavy rain in place until Sunday.

The Met Office has now issued a red warning for wind – which it says could cause danger to life – for the south west, which runs from 3am on Saturday until 11am on Sunday.

It states: “Damaging winds associated with Storm Darragh are expected to cause significant disruption. Keep yourself and others safe [and] avoid travelling by road. It is not safe to drive in these conditions.

“Being outside in high winds makes you vulnerable to injury – stay indoors if you can.”

There is a danger to life due to flying debris and falling trees, it says, and a risk of large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes.

Power cuts could affect services and roads, bridges and railway lines may become closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights.

In the New Forest and Christchurch the yellow weather warning states there could be cancellations to road, rail, air and ferry services, spray and flooding leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There is a small chance homes and businesses will be flooded.

There is a slight chance of damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as injuries from large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties.

It advises residents to secure loose items outside homes, such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences, and check road conditions ahead of making any journeys.

Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said: “Although there is a lower likelihood of impacts outside of the red and amber warning areas, this doesn’t mean you won’t see them.

“We are likely to see impacts across the whole of the country and people should keep an eye on the latest forecast details and prepare for the bad weather, especially if planning to be out and about on Saturday.

“Some areas are likely to have a relatively quiet start to Saturday, weather-wise, but winds will quickly increase from the west through the day.”