Three weather warnings over two days for Kent as Storm Éowyn looms with expected strong winds
Met Office forecasters have issued multiple new yellow weather warnings covering Kent over the coming days as the county braces for Storm Éowyn. Revisions have been made following yesterday’s (Tuesday, January 21) announcement of a wind warning covering the Kent coast throughout Friday.
The first yellow weather warning will now come into effect from 7am on Thursday, remaining in place for 11 hours until 6pm. Once again, the weather alert just covers Kent’s eastern coastline, including Dover, Sandwich Folkestone and Hythe.
Following this, Friday’s (January 24) first weather alert for wind begins at midnight, lasting 24 hours until 11.59pm. This will cover much of the same area as the Thursday warning, blanketing the east coastline all day.
READ MORE: UK drivers risk £100 fines for parking near their homes under Highway Code rules
From 5am, a third yellow weather warning for wind comes into effect which covers the rest of Kent, including Medway, Dartford, Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. Lasting 10 hours in total, the entire county will therefore be under a wind warning until 3pm on Friday.
Gales upwards of 50mph are expected from Thursday afternoon, feeling at their strongest in coastal regions such as Dover and Thanet. By Friday morning, these will have exceeded 60mph in some areas, reaching up to 62mph in Dover and Folkestone at around 9am.
Considerable disruption is likely to be caused by Storm Éowyn’s strong winds across Thursday and Friday. The Met Office warnings advise that there is a possibility of delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport on these days as a result.
Coastal towns could be battered by large waves and spray, with those living in these areas urged to take extra care, particularly when walking near cliffs and the shore. Some short-term losses of power and other services, such as phone signal, could occur.
High-sided vehicles may face delays on exposed routes and bridges. Anyone needing to travel on these two days has been advised to allow extra time for their journeys, leave extra stopping distance when driving and pay close attention to road signs.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “The wet and windy weather brought about by Storm Éowyn will make driving much more of a challenge towards the end of this week, especially for those in the west of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Strong winds mean there’s a higher likelihood of fallen branches and trees on rural routes between motorways and A-roads, which can obstruct journeys and puncture tyres if not carefully avoided.
“Drivers also need to be well aware of the buffeting effect of sudden gusts, especially along coastlines and exposed areas where the worst weather is expected. High-sided vehicles are most at risk of being blown off course, but cars can also be affected as they pass lorries on the motorway and are then hit by the wind on the other side.
“It’s best to keep speeds low and have a firm grip on the wheel to avoid being caught off-guard, especially in areas where heavy rain will affect visibility.” The strong winds will be joined by outbreaks of rain, turning heavy at times.
Showers will be at their heaviest in Kent throughout Friday morning and these widespread downpours are likely to persist into the afternoon before clearing from the early evening. Temperatures will sit around average on Thursday, peaking at 7C in Kent, before a slightly warmer spell during Friday’s stormy conditions, reaching up to 10C in parts of the county during the afternoon.
Saturday is looking to be a breezy day for the entire UK as the storm begins to pass. Some rain is still likely over the weekend, but will be In the form of lighter showers rather than more heavy downpours.