New weather warnings for a Boxing Day storm

THE Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for winds reaching 80mph - starting at around 3pm on Boxing Day and remaining in place until noon on Sunday.

The latest weather warning comes after a separate yellow warning for rain came into place yesterday morning at 6am, and remained in place until this morning.

Drivers have already been urged to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary during the weather warning that is now in place across Devon and Cornwall, with signficant surface water flooding reported.

And driving will get more hazardous on Boxing day, with Devon County Council warning motorists to stay off the roads.

The new wind warning means the region will see very windy weather, potentially leading to disruption to transport and utilities, the forecaster said.

The Met Office says people should expect road, rail, air and ferry services to be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible.

Some roads and bridges may close, they warn, and power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

The Exeter-based forecaster also warns injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, and some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could occur.

In a statement, the Met Office added: “An area of strong southwesterly winds will develop across parts of northern England and the far south of Scotland on Saturday afternoon, before transferring southeastwards across the rest of England and Wales into Sunday morning, clearing by early Sunday afternoon.

“Inland gusts of 50-60 mph are likely, with the potential for 60-70 mph in some locations. Hills and coasts exposed to the southwesterly winds could see gusts of 70-80 mph. In addition to the strong winds, a period of heavy, squally rain will affect western and southern areas.

“Combined with strong winds, the rain will lead to some hazardous travelling conditions.”

The Environment Agency yesterday had flood warnings in place for the Washford river in Somerset with properties at risk in the village of Roadwater.

There were also flood alerts in place for river systems across the South West including the Exmoor rivers, the Lower Exe, the Lower Tamar, the river Tone and Parret Moors, the Middle Exe area, the Middle River Tamar, the River Fowey the River Lynher, the River Plym and Tory Brook, the river Yealm, the River Yeo and River Parrett Moors around Mulchelney and Thorney, the Upper River Tamar, the West Cornwall Rivers and West

Somerset streams.