Storm Fionn 2018 survival guide – how to prepare for the 80mph winds which are heading for the UK
EIGHTY mile per hour winds are heading for the UK today as Storm Fionn continues to blight Britain.
Here is our guide on how to best protect yourself and your family...
How should you prepare for Storm Fionn?
- CHECK the Met Office website for the latest weather warnings. This will tell you what time to expect the disruptive weather and where it's most likely to hit.
- BE AWARE of parking safely avoiding trees, overhanging telephone wires and things which could cause harm if they are swept over by the storm.
- DO NOT put yourself in danger by taking "storm selfies". The Environment Agency's Alison Baptiste has warned the public to stay safe along the coast where there is set to be strong winds, large waves and some over-topping of coastal defences.
- BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS when driving on exposed roads, high ground and across bridges where again sudden gusts can blow you off course.
- REDUCE speed when driving in high winds, hold the steering wheel firmly and be prepared for sudden gusts, debris and even fallen branches in the road.
- ALLOW ROOM between your vehicle and the next - and take extra care when overtaking cyclists, motorcyclists and lorries which could be blown around easily by side winds.
- AVOID travelling on flooded roads.
What's the latest on Storm Fionn?
A trail of destruction has been left after Storm Fionn's gale force winds swept across the country yesterday - and the icy weather is expected to continue into today.
Forecasters say the bone-chilling blizzard that included gusts of 93mph won't be letting up just yet, with an amber warning this morning issued for snow and ice.
It comes after trees were downed and thousands of homes were left without power on Wednesday night after the UK was blasted with extreme conditions that sparked a warning of danger to life due to flying debris.
This morning, meteorologist Sophie Yeomans said: "There have been frequent snow showers across northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, it has been quite variable.
"There is a yellow warning for snow and ice out, with further snow showers throughout the day and it looks like more travel disruptions."
There's been more snow in Scotland and other parts of Britain, but winds are only expected to reach 40mph today.
Overnight, Scotland's Tulloch Bridge saw an extra four inches of snow on top of the already eight inches settled on the ground.
What is a weather bomb?
A weather bomb is a term used to describe a specific low-pressure system which falls 24 millibars within a 24-hour period.
This process is known as explosive cyclogenesis and sees dry air flow into an area of low pressure.
As a result, this causes the depression within the storm to rise very quickly and increase its rotation, further deepening the pressure and making the storm even more powerful.
The Met Office describes the phenomenon as similar to "the way that ice skaters spin faster by drawing their arms in" as they rotate.
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Weather bombs often peak over a period of a few hours and have the potential to tear down trees as well as causing damage to buildings and other structures.
The UK has been hit by weather bombs before - notably in February 2017 when Storm Doris caused significant damage and disruption to the country.
One woman was also killed during the storm after falling debris struck her in the head in Wolverhampton City Centre.
University worker Tahnie Martin was struck by a rotten building panel which had been torn loose by the winds.