WORCESTERSHIRE is bracing itself for the arrival of Storm Eunice in the early hours of tomorrow after the amber warning from the Met Office and West Midlands Railway telling people ‘not to travel’.
The Met Office said winds in Worcestershire could reach as high as 70mph to 80mph and there is a good chance flying debris could result in a danger to life.
Damage to buildings and homes, such as roofs, is likely and households and businesses could be left without electricity if power lines are brought down.
In the south west of England a rare red warning has been put in place because the conditions are going to be so severe but it is looking bleak for the rest of the country as well.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders said: “After the impacts from Storm Dudley for many on Wednesday, Storm Eunice will bring damaging gusts in what could be one of the most impactful storms to affect southern and central parts of the UK for a few years.
“Although the most exposed coastal areas in the south and west could see gusts in excess of 90mph, winds will remain notably strong further inland, with gusts of between 70 to 80mph for most within the amber warning area.”
West Midlands Railway issued its ‘do not travel’ warning for commuters on Friday as Eunice is likely to cause even more disruption on top of felled trees and debris from Storm Dudley which impacted the network earlier in the week.
Blanket speed restrictions on all services will also cause delays.
Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “Storm Eunice is expected to be one of the biggest storms in recent years and we expect significant disruption to train services.
“The message to our customers is clear – do not use the train on Friday. Customers with tickets for travel on Friday will be able to travel today and Saturday instead.”
Plans for potential highways issues
Due to the potential severity of Storm Eunice Worcestershire County Council Highways teams have suspended non-essential highway maintenance operations so they can use their available resources to deal with fallen trees, flooding and other hazards.
Anyone who spots a fallen tree blocking a road or other issues should call Worcestershire Highways on 01905 845676.
WPD Teams ready to deal with potential power cuts
Western Power Distribution (WPD) which is responsible for the electricity supply is operating at usual levels despite the added pressures of Storm Eunice.
Additional operational and engineering staff are ready and on stand-by to respond to any network issues.
Additional Contact and control Centre operatives are available to manage the electricity network and to help customers with their enquiries.
A WPD spokesperson said: “We know that storm conditions can be a worrying time, we wanted to reassure you that we are prepared.”
Anyone who has a power cut and needs extra support, call us on 0800 917 7953 at any time.
Flood risk across Worcestershire
There is a risk of flooding along the River Severn as well but, if it happens, it will more likely on Saturday or Sunday as heavy rain falls on already saturated ground.
