Winter watershed as Storm Arwen bears down
A RARE red warning for wind was issued by the Met Office yesterday and was still in place today, covering coastal areas in the North East. The culprit is Storm Arwen, the first proper one of winter, blowing in from the north on the back of winds exceeding 80mph.
The red warning is the first for three years and is not issued lightly. According to the Beaufort wind scale, developed in the 19th century to protect Royal Navy vessels at sea, such speeds are highly destructive and are at the very top of the tree.
Speaking of trees, there is concern that many will have toppled in Arwen’s wake. This dry and mild autumn has meant many species holding on to their leaves for longer than they normally would. This increased foliage can catch wind like a sail, uprooting the trees with the accompanying force.
As the weather slowly settles over the weekend, the countryside will suddenly look very different with the last of the autumn leaves dispersed like confetti and the branches exposed.
But such ferocious storms do illuminate the landscape in other ways. During migration, heavy winds can lead to large numbers of coastal birds turning up on the land – some disorientated and some taking full advantage of a strong tailwind to help them on their way.
Radar observations have shown how migrant birds can shift their altitude to find the best height with the greatest amount of wind in their favour. However, the wind needs to be blowing in the right direction; for small birds even a relatively light headwind can reduce their range by 50 per cent.
Might this prove one of those weekends when suddenly the winter migrants hove into view: redwing, fieldfare and the like descending from the far North with frost-tipped wings?
Perhaps, then, Storm Arwen will provide something of a watershed between seasons. As the last leaves fall, in their place alight the serried ranks of familiar friends, returning to keep us company through another winter.*