Storm Ciara weather warning upgraded as 80mph winds approach
THE weather warning for the New Forest this weekend has been upgraded to amber level by the Met Office as Storm Ciara approaches.
The eastern half of the district has been included in a fresh alert for Sunday covering the south-east coast with damaging winds of up to 80mph forecast to hit the area, as well as heavy downpours of rain.
The uprated amber notification, issued this morning (Friday), warns of probable damage to buildings, such as tiles blown off, and danger to life in coastal communities from large waves and beach material being thrown up by the powerful winds.
The New Forest and Christchurch were already covered by a less serious yellow warning published earlier in the week for the whole of the UK.
The amber Met Office warning said: “Widespread very strong winds will affect the region through much of Sunday.
“Gusts of 55-65mph are likely widely in inland areas and 70-80mph along the south coast.
“Heavy rain will accompany the strong winds leading to very poor driving conditions.”
Road, rail, air and ferry services are likely to be affected, the Met Office said, with longer journey times and cancellations.
There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, it added, and some roads and bridges likely to close.
Hampshire County Council said its highways teams were on full alert, with extra tree and emergency crews on standby to help keep the roads clear.
Cllr Rob Humby, HCC cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We’ve had an exceptionally wet winter so far, and groundwater levels have been rising as a consequence, so some areas are more vulnerable to surface water flooding.
"Similarly, strengthening winds combined with expected high tides in coastal areas will affect areas most vulnerable to tidal flooding.
"Heavily saturated ground could mean that some trees are more susceptible to fall in the strong winds or gusts and we can also expect the wind to damage trees and bring down branches which may affect roads and power lines.”
He added: “I would ask that anyone setting out on a journey this weekend to please be prepared, drive according to the conditions and check the weather forecast before they head off.”
Areas predicted by the Met Office to be affected are most of Hampshire, as well as East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Recent bad weather, including the remnants of Storm Brendan in January, caused landslips near Barton and Milford, major road-flooding, trees blocking transport routes, and even a suspected tornado in Barton and New Milton.
