The met office has issued a wind weather warning for Sunday 9 February. There will be very strong winds, with some rainfall from midnight Saturday night, throughout Sunday and possibly into Monday morning.
There are flood alerts for Lyme Regis, West Bay, Wareham and Chiswell. The highways team from Dorset Council and the Environment Agency will be monitoring Portland Beach Road during the day and may need to close the road if there’s a danger from flying pebbles and spray.
The forecast for winds on the coast is from gale force seven up to severe gale force ten. The wind will reach gusts of 60-75mph. Dorset Council are asking people to stay away from cliffs and be careful on beaches at high tide when there is a possibility of large waves.
High tide is from 6.45am and 6.45pm, but the effect of the weather may cause issues up to two hours either side of these times
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“We want residents and visitors to stay safe and well. With winds this strong there is a possibility of risk to life along the coast.”
Inland the wind is not expected to be as strong, up to 55mph, but this may cause some travel disruption falling trees and flying debris. Make sure garden furniture is secure. Trees may also take power lines down in places.
The prolonged spell of wet weather has led to ground being saturated, so the rain on Sunday may cause short term localised flooding. So, drivers should be aware of the weather conditions and check routes before starting their journey.
The weather warning is in place until midnight on Sunday, but the windy weather may continue into Monday.
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