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Named windstorms
The big UK threat. Structural damage at 70+ mph; serious risk above 90 mph.
Context
Named storms — joint Met Office / Met Éireann / KNMI naming — are the routine winter hazard. Storm Goretti (Jan 2026) gusted at 212 km/h. Storm Dave (Apr 2026) hit 153 km/h. Wind warnings escalate from yellow → amber → red as the gust threshold and area affected widen.
When this matters
Met Office issues a named storm or wind warning for your area. Pay particular attention if amber or red.
Before
- Secure or stow loose outdoor items. Wheelie bins, garden furniture, plant pots, trampolines, gazebos, ladders propped against walls. A 60 mph gust will carry a wheelie bin into a window.
- Park away from trees if possible. UK windstorm fatalities most often involve falling trees onto vehicles or people on foot.
- Check loose tiles, fence panels, gutters during settled weather — once the storm is on, it's too late.
- Charge phones, power banks, and torches. Storm Arwen (2021) left some areas without power for 10+ days.
- Stock 24–48h of food + water that doesn't need cooking, plus medication.
- Caravan owners: tie-downs and wind ratings only go so far. For amber+ warnings, leave the caravan empty.
During
- Stay indoors and away from windows. Glass blowouts at amber wind levels are a real injury source.
- Don't drive unless essential. High-sided vehicles, motorbikes, and bridges are the worst. Most UK road bridges close at gusts of 60+ mph; check before you set off.
- If you're walking and a tree starts to creak, move away from it immediately — UK soils saturate fast in autumn/winter, and root-balls fail without warning.
- Don't try to repair a damaged roof or chase loose tiles in the storm. Wait until winds drop below 25 mph.
After
- Power out? Call 105 — the UK national power outage number. They route you to your local DNO.
- Don't approach fallen power lines. Treat all downed lines as live. Call 105 or 999.
- Tree across the road? If it's blocking a public road, call 101 (non-emergency police) or your council. Don't move it yourself if it's tangled with cables.
- Coastal area? Storm surge often follows the wind by hours. See the storm surge entry.
UK specifics — numbers, sources
- Met Office NSWWS issues colour-coded warnings 24–96 hours ahead.
- National Grid power outages: 105 (free, 24/7).
- Highways England traffic alerts: highwaysengland.co.uk or 0300 123 5000.
- National Emergency: 999 or 112.
- Tree-related damage is the leading UK cause of windstorm fatalities — over half of named-storm deaths since 2015.
General guidance. Your specific circumstances may vary — follow the Met Office, Environment Agency / SEPA / NRW, your local council, and emergency services for situation-specific direction. See the code of conduct for chasers in the field.