Storm Ciara: Met Office upgrades weather warning to 'severe' Amber as disruption expected

It had originally being issued as a yellow alert but has now been bumped up to the ‘severe’ level with disruption expected in our area on Sunday.

The Amber warning for wind is in place from 9am to 9pm on February 9 with gales of nearly 65mph being forecast.

Met Office has also warned that ‘there is a good chance that power cuts may occur’ on Sunday.

On its website, the forecaster says: ‘Storm Ciara will bring a spell of very strong winds. Disruption to travel is likely during Sunday.

‘Widespread very strong winds will affect the region through much of Sunday. Gusts of 55 to 65 mph are likely widely in inland areas and 70 to 80 mph along the south coast.

‘Heavy rain will accompany the strong winds leading to very poor driving conditions.’

Portsmouth residents are also being advised by the Met Office that during Storm Ciara that they could expect:

- Probably some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs

- Longer journey times and cancellations likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected

- Some roads and bridges likely to close

- Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties

Winds are expected to be strongest between 3pm and 6pm when it is expected that they will reach speeds of 64mph.

Gales of 50mph plus are expected from 6am on Sunday and will last throughout the day, with the strong winds also forecast to carry over into the early hours of Monday.

Storm Brendan battered Portsmouth last month and parts of Southsea seafront was flooded.