People in Bath are being urged to be extra cautious tomorrow, Friday 18th February, as Storm Eunice brings extremely strong winds to the area.
Weather warnings are in place for Friday 18th February | Image © Met Office
A Met Office amber weather warning is currently in place for the south of England, and Bath and North East Somerset is on the border of a red danger to life warning.
The bad weather is expected from around 5am through to 9pm, with gusts of more than 60mph expected in Bath.
Strong winds of around 30mph will batter the area, with showers also expected throughout the day.
Warnings have been issued about flying debris, damage to buildings and homes, a chance of power cuts and the likelihood of falling trees causing disruption.
Local health officials are asking people to be vigilant and, wherever possible, to stay indoors.
Dr Ruth Grabham, Medical Director, said: “Many of us think we are invincible to the elements, but extremely strong winds, such as those forecast for our region, have the power to knock even the sturdiest of people off their feet.
“None of us ever set out to have an accident, so people, especially those who are older, should think long and hard about whether their morning run, daily cycle or just a quick walk to the shops is absolutely necessary in these stormy conditions.
“With local NHS services already under immense pressure, doing whatever we can to avoid accidents that would otherwise require medical intervention will help our hardworking teams to continue providing care to those most in need.”
A statement from the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group says: “Any person who becomes injured during the bad weather is urged to think carefully about which service is most appropriate for their condition, as doing so will help already-busy medical teams prioritise those with the most urgent care needs.”
First Bus has said a limited service will be running in Bath, but the following services will be suspended: 19, 31 (Lansdown P&R), 39, X39, 171, 172, 173, 174, D1, D2, OS1 and U5.
The storm is likely to cause disruption through to the weekend, with train operator GWR allowing people with tickets for travel on Friday 18th February to travel on Thursday 17th through to and including Monday 21st February.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “Speed restrictions will be put in place on our network, but the extent of those restrictions can only be determined by conditions on the ground and are likely to change throughout the day.
“We will continue to run as many trains as we can but those who need to travel travel should be aware that we will have to reduce the number of trains we can run, journey times will take longer, and those trains we can run will be much busier.
“Please do heed the usual advice to check before you travel, and if you hold a ticket for tomorrow [Friday 18 February] and would like to travel today or up to Monday, we have eased restrictions so that you are able to do so.”
Mike Gallop, Network Rail Western route and strategic operations director, said: “We’re working really closely with GWR and the other train companies to keep trains and passengers moving safely during this period of extreme weather.
“The severe weather associated with Storm Eunice is expected to bring significantly high winds of up to 100mph, and in places may result in trees and debris being blown onto train lines which blocks train movements and can cause delays and cancellations.
“Our operational colleagues will be out there on the front line braving the conditions to respond to any incidents and keep the railway clear and trains moving where it is safe and possible to do so.
“Storms can create a fast-moving picture so we’re asking passengers to please plan ahead and check before they travel.”
Those who choose not to travel at all will be able to claim a refund/allowed to amend their ticket. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more.
Mark Newberry, Commercial Director at Green Flag, the roadside assistance company, commented: “The imminent arrival of Storm Eunice on UK shores will see many parts of the country affected by strong winds of up to 90mph, while some parts of the UK could even see snow.
“The onset of strong and disruptive winds, coupled with millions travelling over half term, means that Green Flag is expecting a spike in breakdowns across the country.
“As a result of these weather conditions, we urge drivers to remain cautious and to carry out the relevant safety checks before setting off on their journeys.
“It’s particularly important that people are as prepared as possible to withstand the high expected wind speeds and potential snow in some areas.”
