Storm Ciara: Portsmouth residents warned of 'road closures, power outages and damage to buildings' as gales set to hit

RESIDENTS are being warned that a storm could cause travel disruptions and power outages this weekend.
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A yellow weather warning has been issued for across the Portsmouth area on Sunday with the Met Office predicting it will bring very strong winds and heavy rain.

Dubbed Storm Ciara it is set to bring gales of up to 62mph to the city, while some parts of the country could even see the wind speeds reach 80mph.

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On it’s website, the Met Office warns: ‘Strong winds will be widespread and last throughout much of Sunday.

Picture: Habibur RahmanPicture: Habibur Rahman
Picture: Habibur Rahman

‘Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely across many inland areas and around 70 mph in coastal areas.’

Residents are being warned that Storm Ciara could cause travel disruption on roads, rails and ferries throughout Sunday as well as cause power outages.

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Storm Brendan destroys sea defences along Southsea seafront

The Met Office is warning people that they could expect:

- Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible

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

- Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen

- Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible

- Some roads and bridges may close

- Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage

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The weather warning for the storm was initially issued for Saturday evening as well as, however that has been revised to just Sunday.

Winds are expected to be strongest in Portsmouth between 3pm and 6pm on Sunday, when they are predicted to reach 62mph.

The gales will be stronger than 50mph from 3am until midnight according to the Met Office’s forecast, with heavy rain also expected until 6pm.

This is the third named storm of the 2019-20 season after Atiyah and Brendan.

Two sections of the Southsea seafront were destroyed by the high winds brought as Storm Brendan hit the city in mid-January.

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