Millions sent ‘risk to life’ emergency phone alert as Storm Darragh approaches

Thank you for staying tuned to our Storm Darragh blog this evening.

Find out the destruction it has caused across the country from 7am tomorrow morning.

More than a dozen flights from Belfast City Airport have been cancelled on Saturday because of Storm Darragh’s ferocious winds.

All of the cancelled flights were scheduled to fly to other cities in the UK, bar one going to Amsterdam.

There are also 21 cancelled flights from Dublin Airport on Saturday.

These include flights to London Heathrow, Washington, Manchester, Paris, Newcastle and Edinburgh, among others.

Traffic Wales will close parts of the A55, A5 and A483 roads because of Storm Darragh.

It on X: ‘A55 Britannia Bridge will close to all vehicles due to extremely high winds 07/12 from 2:00 until winds have eased at approx. 12:00.’

‘Based on current forecasts the A5 Ceiriog & A483 Dee Viaducts will close between 07/12 06:00 and approximately 21:00 because of severe winds.’

National Rail has warned of the likelihood of disruption across these train services tomorrow.

CrossCountry has issued a ‘do not travel’ warning, with services cancelled between:

• Edinburgh – Glasgow Central / Aberdeen
• Newcastle – Reading (direct services only)
• Cambridge and Stansted Airport
• Gloucester and Cardiff Central.

South Western Railway will make the following changes to its services:

• London Waterloo – Salisbury / Exeter St Davids will only run between Basingstoke and Salisbury / Exeter St Davids;
• London Waterloo – Weymouth will only operate between London Waterloo and Bournemouth until 11am tomorrow;
• An extremely limited service will run between Bournemouth and Weymouth until 1pm tomorrow.

Great Western Railway will run services with speed restrictions across the network, increasing journey times.

London Northwestern Railway warned the following routes could be affected by the storm:

• London – Crewe
• London – Birmingham
• Birmingham – Liverpool
• Crewe – Stafford via Stoke on Trent.

West Midlands Railway anticipates impacts to all routes in the West Midlands.

Transport for Wales services said some services will be cancelled in southwest Wales, north Wales, the heart of Wales and Cambrian lines.

Cancellations include:

• Llandudno / Llandudno Junction – Blaenau Ffestiniog
• Llandrindod – Shrewsbury
• Carmarthen – Pembroke Dock / Milford Haven / Fishguard Harbour.

ScotRail said there will be a speed restriction between Stranraer and Ayr / Kilmarnock / Glasgow Central.

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a statement over the chaos that Storm Darragh will bring.

In a post on X he wrote: ‘A red warning is in place for parts of the country due to Storm Darragh.

‘The UK Emergency Alert System has issued advice through mobile phones in the areas affected.

‘We are working with local leaders and agencies on the ground to keep you safe.’

London’s biggest Christmas event Winter Wonderland will be closed tomorrow because of high winds.

Winter Wonderland posted on X: ‘In line with the Royal Parks’ closure of Hyde Park due to high winds, we will not be opening Hyde Park Winter Wonderland on Saturday 7th December 2024.’

It added it is ‘sorry for any disappointment caused’.

This is the message received by around three million phones in Wales and the south-west of England:

‘A red warning for wind has been issued in your area. Extremely strong winds associated with Storm Darragh are expected to cause significant disruption from 3.00am on Saturday 07 December 2024.

‘Strong winds can cause flying debris, falling trees and large waves around coastal areas, all of which can present a danger to life.

‘Stay indoors if you can. It is not safe to drive in these conditions.

‘The storm may damage infrastructure causing power cuts and disruption to mobile phone coverage.

‘Consider gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items you already have at home.

‘Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow advice from emergency services, network operators and local authorities.

‘For more information search online for ‘gov.uk/alerts’ or Met Office warnings and advice.’

Read our full story here.

The Cabinet Office has released a statement on the latest emergency alert, saying it is the largest ever use of the system since it was first tested.

It said: ‘Mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent.

‘The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

‘The UK Government has well rehearsed plans in place for severe winter weather and is working with teams from devolved governments, local authorities, the emergency services and other public bodies to coordinate the response to any disruption.’

Every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas was sent a message with ‘information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe on Saturday’.

The government has sent a rare ‘risk to life’ alert to three million people after a red weather warning was issued for wind tomorrow.

First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said this system is only used when there is a ‘potential risk to life’.

The alert, set to arrive any moment now, will trigger a sound ‘much louder than a normal text message’.

‘Your phone will make a loud noise and flash until you turn it off,’ she said.

This is the areas that will receive the message:

• Devon
• Bath
• North East Somerset
• City of Bristol
• North Somerset
• South Gloucestershire 
• Somerset
• Isle of Anglesey
• Gwynedd
• Conwy
• Ceredigion
• Pembrokeshire
• Carmarthenshire
• Swansea
• Neath Port Talbot
• Bridgend
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Cardiff
• Monmouthshire
• Newport

South Western Railway has issued a travel warning ahead of Storm Darragh which is expected to grind the UK to a halt.

Services between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo will start and finish at Basingstoke due to the storm.

There will also be longer journey times between Salisbury and Exeter and St Davids, and between Bournemouth and Weymouth. 

Customers have been urged to check their train service before travelling.

Ferry crossings have been cancelled because of Storm Darragh.

Operator DFDS announced the cancellation of its crossings between Newcastle and Amsterdam until Sunday due to ‘adverse weather conditions’.

It comes as travel disruption is expected and events have been cancelled across the UK.

90mph winds are expected and there is even the risk of tornadoes in some parts.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORO) has issued a warning for the possibility of tornadoes during Storm Darragh.

In a statement on its website, the volunteer-led organisation says: ‘Wind gusts to around 70-75mph could accompany the stronger cores, and one or tornadoes are possible too.’

A red ‘danger to life’ warning has already been issued for 90mph winds.

Amid high winds and heavy rain predicted, two leading airlines have issued warnings.

Jet2 wrote in a statement: ‘Our operations team are monitoring the UK forecast to ensure we have the most up to date information for all Jet2.com departing and arriving customers until Sunday 8th December.

‘If you are travelling with Jet2.com during this period, we plan to operate our flights as close to schedule as possible, however, there may be some disruption should the weather deteriorate.

‘We advise all customers to allow extra time to travel to the airport and check in as scheduled (our check in desks close 40 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time) and our friendly Red Teams in the terminal will keep you up to date. If your flight is disrupted, we will be in contact with you direct via SMS and Email and post regular updates on this page of the Jet2.com website.’

Ryanair added: ‘Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling to/from Ireland on Fri 06 Dec should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight. We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by Storm Darragh, which is outside of Ryanair’s control and affects all airlines operating to/from Ireland on Fri 06 Dec.’

Liverpool and Everton have confirmed that Saturday’s Premier League game at Goodison Park is still due to go ahead following postponement concerns due to Storm Darragh.

Liverpool travel to Goodison Park to play Everton in the Premier League’s 12.30pm kick-off and supporters have been advised to allow more time for their journey to the stadium.

However, Merseyside Police are advising people to ‘avoid any non-essential travel until conditions have improved’.

Read the full article below.

The Met Office has issued six steps people should take to protect themselves from Storm Darragh.

A danger to life warning is in place from 3am to 11am on Saturday and covers south east Wales as well as the west coast.

The steps include:

• Keep yourself and others safe; avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous conditions. It is not safe to drive in these conditions.
• Being outside in high winds makes you vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors if you can.
• Don’t risk injury to others or damage to your property. If you can do so safely, check for loose items outside your home and secure them. Items include; Christmas decorations, bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.
• People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
• If you live or work on the coast, beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
• Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities

This map shows areas in the UK that will be hit by a severe red wind weather warning, with gusts of 90mph expected.

Storm Darragh will bring with it ‘damaging winds’ and will cause ‘significant disruption’ into this weekend.

Flying debris and fallen trees could pose a ‘danger to life’ while large waves and beach material could be thrown on to coastal roads and seafronts.

The warning covers coastal areas of Wales and the South West of England, including Cardiff, Bristol and Devon, and is in place from 3am-11am on Saturday.

There are other amber and yellow weather warnings in place for parts of the UK as well.

Some parts of Wales are expected to experience 90mph winds from 3am until 11am tomorrow because of Storm Darragh.

Parts of Scotland are also set to be battered as well with 80mph winds expected.

A Met Office amber alert in Scotland covers its south west corner and comes with a warning of potential damage to buildings and homes.

Ferry operators Stena Line and P&O have already cancelled their crossings between Cairnryan and Northern Ireland on Saturday because of the storm.

Events have been cancelled across the west country thanks to Storm Darragh – an area which will be battered by the storm.

Below is a list of all the events that have been cancelled this weekend due to the storm:

Cornwall:

• Saltash Christmas Festival
• Falmouth Festive Weekend
• Truro Christmas Market
• Porthleven Christmas Market
• Callington Rotary Christmas Market

Devon:

• Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas
• Plymouth Santa-themed motorcycle ride in aid of Little Harbour Children’s Hospice
• Tavistock’s Dickensian Evening
• Exeter’s Magdalen Road Christmas Fair
• Plymouth Argyle’s home match against Oxford United

Somerset:

• Cheddar Festive Night
• Bath Christmas Market (closed on Saturday, December 7)
• Light Up The Lake at Clevedon’s Marine Lake

Bristol:

• Windmill Hill Market Festive Weekend
• St Nicholas Outdoor Market
• Chew Valley Lake, Blagdon Lake and The Barrow Tanks closed to visitors and birdwatchers on Saturday, December 7

Gloucestershire:

• Gloucester Quay’s Christmas Market

Wiltshire:

• South Swindon Enchanted Lights Trail
• Swindon Retail Market
• Longleat Safari Park