Storm Darragh hits UK and Ireland with 93mph gusts

London (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – As Storm Darragh hits the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 93mph, millions of people have been urged to stay indoors.

Approximately 3 million people in Wales and southwest England have been alerted by the government to stay indoors with Storm Darragh making landfall. A mass notification warned people of a “danger to life” risk as a consequence of “flying debris, falling trees and large swells around coastal areas”. It was the most extensive use of the warning system yet, with the alert advising residents to evade driving and to “stay indoors if you can”.

How is the UK issuing its highest-level red warning?

UK’s Met Office has issued its highest-level red warning for potentially life-threatening weather. The warning is in place from 03:00 to 11:00 GMT on 7 Dec 2024 and surrounds western and southern Wales and the Bristol Channel shore. The storm is likely to generate “significant disruption”, the Met Office stated. The warning added that people should “consider gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other vital items you already have at home”, in case of energy cuts. 

As reported the warning message was the most extensive use yet of the UK warning system and drove a loud siren-like sound when provided to devices, lasting for about 10 seconds. “Being outside in high winds makes you vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors if you can,” it stated.

How severe will the wind gusts from Storm Darragh be?

Further, wind gusts of 93mph have been reported in Capel Curig, north Wales, and 92mph in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula. Winds of 80-90mph have also been recorded near the Irish Sea since about 03:00. According to authorities, the most intense winds are expected on the western flank of the UK as the storm moves south-eastwards across the country. They are predicted to peak in the coming hours.

What are the stats of power outages caused by Darragh?

Tens of thousands of homes are without electricity in south Wales and western England. According to the Britain National Grid, more than 22,000 properties were without energy supply at 06:00 in Wales. Across the Midlands and south-west England, power cuts were impacting more than 12,000 premises, National Grid live data indicated. The Energy Networks Association expressed that 86,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales are without electricity.

How is Ireland preparing for storm Darragh’s landfall?

On the Nothern side, the official Irish meteorological, Met Eireann’s highest level of warning covers persists in Mayo, Clare, Galway, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and Wicklow. The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris advised those living in areas surrounded by red warnings to take them ‘extraordinarily seriously’. 

‘A red weather warning does mean do not travel during that time, and even though it is a Friday night and coming up to the Christmas season, I’d encourage people to heed that advice and indeed to follow closely weather advice in the hours ahead,’ he stated.

Moreover, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks stated it estimated about 46,000 customers are without power, but added this digit could continue to grow. In the Republic of Ireland, nearly 400,000 customers are without power. The rest of the Republic of Ireland will be surrounded by a Met Eireann orange wind alert. In Munster and Connacht, that caution came into effect at 8 pm on Friday until 10 am on 7 Dec 2024.