Storm Darragh latest: Winter Wonderland to shut amid 90mph winds and rare Met Office red weather warning

A christmas market in Chiswick has been cancelled as a result of the dangerous winds amid Storm Darragh.

The christmas market was set to offer handmade gifts, jewellery, christmas carols sung by a performing arts choir, and story telling by Santa.

But the kids booked in with the big red man will have to reschedule their appointments after heavy winds prompted organisers to call off the festive event.

Xanthe Arvanitakis, director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, told Chiswick Calendar: “It’s really disappointing, but what can we do? We’ve been told winds of 40mph are expected, which just makes it too dangerous to open the park.

“We have lost that income, but also the stallholders will have lost the opportunity to earn money. We are doing everything we can, we hope the public will understand.”

It is rare for the Met Office to issue red weather warnings. Here are some recent examples:

A heatwave in mid-July 2022 saw temperatures reach unprecedented levels in many parts of the UK, passing 40C for the first time on July 19 and peaking at 40.3C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The conditions prompted the Met Office to issue its first ever red warning for extreme heat, covering much of central and southern England, while the government declared a national emergency.

Storm Eunice, February 2022

Two red warnings for wind were issued for Storm Eunice, covering areas of south-west and south-east England.

It was the most severe and damaging storm to affect England and Wales since 2014, with winds of more than 81mph in exposed coastal locations and a gust of 122mph recorded on the Needles off the coast of the Isle of Wight, setting a new England gust speed record.

Storm Arwen, November 2021

A red warning for wind was issued for Storm Arwen, running down the eastern edge of the UK from Aberdeen to Newcastle.

The storm saw wind speeds of more than 69mph in many areas of Scotland and northern England, with a gust of 98mph recorded at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland.

More than one million homes lost power, three people died when they were hit by falling trees, and rail passengers in Aberdeenshire were stuck on a train overnight.

Storm Dennis, February 2020

A red warning for rain was issued for parts of South Wales during storm Dennis. The storm brought very strong winds, but the worst of the disruption was caused by exceptionally heavy rain.

Residents in Staffordshire have reported powerful winds believed by some to have been a tornado, described as “like a bomb going off”.

Staffordshire Police said it had reports of 25 trees having been blown down after residents in Clayton and Kidsgrove reported a short blast of “deafening” winds which began and ended without warning.

StokeonTrentLive quoted one reader as saying: “A mini tornado just came through Clayton, it ripped our grass up, ripped the roof tiles off our neighbour’s roof. There’s fence panels everywhere, I’ve never seen anything like it, the sound was deafening.

“We don’t even know if our roof is ok yet. All the neighbours were in the street assessing the damage. A friend said they could hear the intense sound from far away near Westbury Park – like a bomb going off. It lasted about 15 seconds.”

Responding to reports of a possible tornado, one Facebook user in Kidsgrove reported power outages and felled trees, adding: “It passed right through our cul-de-sac! Completely out of the blue the wind just went wild, it was roaring through our house and the trees were bending.

“It was so fast too. We opened the door to take a better look and struggled to close it. Then as quick as it had started, it just stopped. It didn’t slow down, it literally just stopped.”

Another said: “I’m in Kidsgrove and there are trees down everywhere, main roads closed because of debris, roofs blown off and I have never heard wind like that in my life, it was so powerful and our furniture on the decking was banging on the patio doors so loudly.”

And a third person wrote: “I’m in kidsgrove and the wind was brutal for just a few minutes and stopped. Our garden has been savaged. Not just fence panels down but a breeze block wall collapsed.”

The red weather warning – in force from 3am until 11am on Saturday – is due to damaging winds expected to cause significant disruption.

Here is what the Met Office says those living in affected areas should expect:

Danger to life due to flying debris and falling treesLarge waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homesPower cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverageDamage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought downRoads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

The ‘Put Big Light On’ festival in Bolton has been postponed due to the forecast of winds up to 80mph and rain during Storm Darragh.

The lights festival was due to begin last evening and was scheduled to run until Sunday. However, it now stands postponed indefinitely.

“We have not taken the decision to postpone lightly, however the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved is always our top priority,” the festival authorities said in a statement.

“We apologise to the public, performers and traders for the inconvenience this has caused.”

Storm Darragh follows a period of “unsettled and squally conditions”.

An area of low pressure will bring strong winds and heavy rain to much of the UK, with the heaviest rainfall expected to be focussed in the northern and western parts of the warning area.

Some snow will hit northern areas above 200m, the forecaster said.

Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly on Thursday described Storm Darragh as an “evolving system”.

The Met Office has issued its top tips for staying safe in areas with strong wind over the weekend.

Here’s what to do if Storm Darragh brings gusty winds to your area, according to the Met:

Protect your property: ”Don’t risk injury to others or damage to your property. Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them in high winds,” the forecaster says.Plan routes and pack essentials for any journeys: The forecaster stresses that “windy weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous.”Drive slowly and cautiously in strong wind: “Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users,” says the Met Office.Take when near coast: Check forecasts and tides and be aware of large waves, the Met Office says. Take care walking near cliffs.Stay indoors as much as possible: “Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees,” the Met Office says.

Storm Darragh will bring a turbulent weekend of weather to British shores.

But from Sunday, the weather should settle and be replaced with some drier and brighter weather.

The Met Office’s forecast for Sunday through to Tuesday reads: “Turning colder on Sunday and Monday with showers and blustery winds gradually easing. Drier and brighter later Monday and into Tuesday as high pressure build with some mist and fog.”

Four flights due to depart from Cardiff Airport on Saturday have been cancelled .

Much of Cardiff will be covered by a red weather warning for wind until 11am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning of gusts of 90mph or more possible in south Wales.

The cancelled flights were due to fly to Enontekio, Ivalo, Amsterdam and Belfast City.

More than a dozen flights from Belfast City Airport on Saturday have been cancelled as Northern Ireland braces itself for an amber weather warning.

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

Dublin Airport has also seen 21 flight departures cancelled on Saturday.

It includes flights to London Heathrow, Washington, Manchester, Paris, Newcastle and Edinburgh, among others.