As the nation gears up to celebrate the start of a new year, forecasters have urged the public to prepare as strong winds are set to batter the UK over the coming days. The Met Office has announced a 17-hour yellow weather alert for wind which will come into effect at 7am on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1).
Covering almost the entirety of the UK, including all of Kent, the warning will remain in place until midnight. Gusts of up to 70mph are expected in exposed area, with forecasters urging the public to prepare and change any New Year’s plans if necessary.
Andy Page, Chief Forecaster with the Met Office, said: “Almost the entire UK is covered by at least one weather warning during the coming week. With such a varied and complex weather situation there is potential for the pattern of warnings to shift and possibly escalate in some areas.
“With lots of celebrations and people on the move over the coming days, we are urging everyone to keep checking the forecast so they can update their plans.” While the wind warning is in place, there is a chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected.
Kent will endure winds of over 60mph on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1)
(Image: Met Office)
Meanwhile, some buildings may be damaged by the gales, such as tiles being blown from roofs, while some power cuts may also occur. The warning adds: “There is a 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.”
To help prepare for the strong winds, it is recommended to secure loose items outside of your home such as bins, plant pots and garden furniture. Before travelling, plan your full journey, check for any delays or road closures and ensure you have essentials packed in your car such as warm clothing, food, drink, blankets and a torch.
Kent New Year’s Day hour-by-hour wind forecasts
KentLive has put together hour-by-hour New Year’s Day wind forecasts for numerous key areas including Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet, Dover, Maidstone and Canterbury using data from the Met Office and BBC Weather. See below for the full details.
Canterbury
6am: 44mph
7am: 43mph
8am: 43mph
9am: 46mph
10am: 47mph
11am: 50mph
12pm: 52mph
1pm: 54mph
2pm: 56mph
3pm: 57mph
4pm: 58mph
5pm: 59mph
6pm: 57mph
7pm: 55mph
8pm: 54mph
9pm: 47mph
10pm: 41mph
11pm: 19mph
12am: 17mph
Dover
6am: 47mph
7am: 48mph
8am: 48mph
9am: 50mph
10am: 52mph
11am: 54mph
12pm: 56mph
1pm: 59mph
2pm: 61mph
3pm: 62mph
4pm: 64mph
5pm: 65mph
6pm: 64mph
7pm: 62mph
8pm: 61mph
9pm: 53mph
10pm: 45mph
11pm: 24mph
12am: 21mph
Maidstone
6am: 43mph
7am: 43mph
8am: 44mph
9am: 46mph
10am: 48mph
11am: 50mph
12pm: 53mph
1pm: 55mph
2pm: 58mph
3pm: 57mph
4pm: 57mph
5pm: 57mph
6pm: 54mph
7pm: 50mph
8pm: 46mph
9pm: 42mph
10pm: 20mph
11pm: 18mph
12am: 17mph
Medway
6am: 42mph
7am: 42mph
8am: 42mph
9am: 45mph
10am: 47mph
11am: 50mph
12pm: 52mph
1pm: 54mph
2pm: 56mph
3pm: 56mph
4pm: 55mph
5pm: 55mph
6pm: 51mph
7pm: 47mph
8pm: 44mph
9pm: 40mph
10pm: 19mph
11pm: 18mph
12am: 17mph
Thanet
6am: 45mph
7am: 45mph
8am: 45mph
9am: 46mph
10am: 48mph
11am: 50mph
12pm: 52mph
1pm: 55mph
2pm: 57mph
3pm: 59mph
4pm: 60mph
5pm: 61mph
6pm: 61mph
7pm: 60mph
8pm: 59mph
9pm: 53mph
10pm: 46mph
11pm: 40mph
12am: 26mph
Tunbridge Wells
6am: 44mph
7am: 44mph
8am: 45mph
9am: 47mph
10am: 49mph
11am: 51mph
12pm: 53mph
1pm: 55mph
2pm: 56mph
3pm: 57mph
4pm: 58mph
5pm: 58mph
6pm: 55mph
7pm: 52mph
8pm: 49mph
9pm: 44mph
10pm: 22mph
11pm: 20mph
12am: 19mph