NATIONAL Highways is advising drivers to take extra care on the roads and be prepared with Storm Ciaránpredicted to bring strong winds and heavy rain across large parts of the South West, South East and East regions through tonight and tomorrow.
The Met Office has issued yellow and amber alerts for strong winds and rain, with an amber alert for strong winds in place across Devon and Cornwall through Thursday morning and across London and the South East during Thursday, and a yellow alert for wind and rain across the South West, parts of the South East and East Anglia.
As a result, National Highways has issued a Severe Weather Alert for gales, with a significant risk to vehicles using the Strategic Road Network, particularly in the South West and South East regions and southern coastal areas across Dorset and Kent.
Winds are expected to strengthen in Cornwall and Devon from tonight (Wednesday) into Thursday morning, with gusts between 65mph and 75mph on higher ground, particularly on the A30 around Camborne and Bodmin in Cornwall, and other higher-ground areas in Devon, before moving across the south region and into the east, affecting counties along the English Channel throughout Thursday.
Across the remainder of the South West and parts of west Wales, wind strengths are expected to be slightly reduced, with gusts between 50mph and 60mph.
Following the alerts, National Highways is advising motorists – particularly those driving high-sided HGVs, motor homes and motorcycles, and those towing caravans and trailers – to check the weather and driving conditions before setting out on journeys and pay particular attention to exposed locations such as coastal and high lying areas and bridges which could be affected by the high winds.
Winds are expected to slowly ease during the early hours of Friday morning, although the M48 Severn Bridge, Queen Elizabeth II Bridge near Dartford, the Sheppey and Medway crossings in Kent, the bridge over the River Hamble on the M27 and the Port of Dover are likely to be affected by the strong winds during the adverse weather event, which will also bring heavy rain across parts of the south.
Amy Shaw, National Network Manager at National Highways, said: “Driving conditions are likely to change given the Met Office forecasts around Storm Ciarán. If you’re using the roads slow down and give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front. It is harder for tyres to grip the road and excess spray makes it harder to see ahead.
“We also remind drivers to remember TRIP – this is a National Highways initiative to help motorists. It stands for: Top-up – fuel, water and oil; Rest – every two hours; Inspect – tyres and lights before a long journey and Prepare – check your journey and the weather forecast before heading out.
“In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down and drive to the conditions.
“Drivers of other vehicles should be aware of sudden gusts of wind which can affect handling and braking, and give high-sided vehicles, caravans, and motorbikes plenty of space.”
