MET OFFICE ISSUES STORM DIANA ALERT
WEATHER warnings for extreme wind have been issued for Wales.
The Met Office has warned of disruption this week as a spell of windy weather is set to hit large parts of the country.
Forecasters have issued two yellow warnings for Wednesday and Thursday as Storm Diana is set to hit the UK.
Damage to buildings, transport delays and power cuts are possible according to the Met Office.
One warning is in place from 9am to 9pm on Wednesday.
The Met Office said some delays to public transport are likely and journeys could take longer.
Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges are likely, and some local short-term loss of power and other services is possible.
It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities could be affected by spray and/or large waves.
Another warning is in place from 3am to 3pm on Thursday.
The Met Office said during this warning there is a small chance of delays to public transport, and longer journey times.
There is also a small chance that some bridges and exposed roads could close, and of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.
There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.
There is a very small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
The warnings come as the Met Office warned of a “marked change” in conditions this week as wet and windy weather sets in from the west.
They said: “A complex and slowmoving area of low pressure will dominate the weather scene over the Atlantic into [this week], bringing a change to wetter and windier weather across the UK from Tuesday.”
Storm Diana is also expected to cause more unsettled conditions as it merges with the low pressure over the Atlantic.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said: “It now looks very likely that we will see a major change in the UK’s weather early in the week ahead.
“We expect spells of wet and windy weather to sweep across the UK from the southwest from Tuesday, although at the moment there is uncertainty around the timing and the focus for the heaviest rain and strong winds by Wednesday as Storm Diana approaches our shores.”
In Cardiff, heavy rain is expected throughout the day today, with gusts of wind up to 41mph.
By tomorrow and Thursday, it is due to be windy, with gales likely in places.
There could be waves up to 20ft in Porthcawl on Wednesday afternoon, according to surfing website Magic Seaweed.