An emergency mobile phone alert was sent to 3 million people in areas covered by the Met Office’s red warning for wind in parts of Wales and south-west England. The message contained information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe. This was the largest use of the emergency alert system outside a test scenario and led to the cancellation of events including Christmas attractions. The alert warned of dangerous winds causing flying debris, falling trees, and large waves around coastal areas, advising people to stay indoors and not to drive.
The storm, named Darragh, brought gusts of up to 92mph in north Wales, leading to power outages affecting 86,000 homes in England, Scotland, and Wales. Temporary air traffic restrictions were in place at Heathrow and Gatwick airports due to the storm. The Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, with National Rail warning of disruptions to train services throughout the weekend.
National Grid reported that more than 55,000 customers were without power in the south-west of England, south Wales, and the West Midlands due to Storm Darragh. The Met Office warned of damaging winds with gusts of 90mph possible, which were expected to ease by late morning. The rare red weather warning issued by the Met Office signifies dangerous weather expected and urges people to take action to stay safe. Red warnings are issued relatively infrequently, with the last one in the UK being in January for winds in north-east Scotland.
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