Motorists in "vulnerable" vehicles have been urged not to travel on certain stretches of the M5 motorway as Storm Eunice hits.
The warning comes as police advise of a "high likelihood" that both Severn crossings will also close tomorrow (Friday, February 18) due to dangerous conditions in the Bristol Channel. National Highways has advised of "exceptional sidewinds" with the power to blow over caravans and motorbikes.
The M48 Severn Bridge usually closes during windy conditions, so that is not unusual. However, it is a rare move to close the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge too, as that is usually used as the diversion when the former is shut.
READ MORE: Storm Eunice declared major incident in Bristol region
Police advised: "There's a high likelihood that both the M4 Prince of Wales bridge and the M48 Severn Bridge will be closed." This was echoed in a statement from National Highways, which read: "There's a high likelihood of both Severn Crossings being closed tomorrow, with an impact on access into Wales via the M5 north and M50 south."
This afternoon (Thursday) the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum declared Storm Eunice a major incident, after the Met Office upgraded the area's wind warning from amber to the most severe 'red' threat. The Environment Agency tweeted: "A flood warning is in place for the Severn Estuary at Severn Beach. We are expecting very large and powerful waves along the coast early tomorrow. Please avoid using coastal footpaths and roads."
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A National Highways spokesperson said: "Storm Eunice will bring some exceptionally strong winds around the Bristol Channel peaking tomorrow morning with 70-80mph gusts and potentially peaking at 90 mph over the Avonmouth and Severn Bridges.
"This will lead to dangerous driving conditions for vulnerable vehicles with exceptional sidewinds and wind-blown debris with Essential Travel Only advised. This National Highways Red Alert is embedded within a National Highways Amber Alert which runs alongside this enhanced status.
"There is a particularly high risk that high-sided vehicles and other 'vulnerable' vehicles such as caravans and motorbikes could be blown over and should not travel on the following sections of roads."
The list of roads affected was as follows:
- M48 Severn Crossing
- M4 Prince of Wales Bridge
- M49 - M4 J22 (at Severn Crossing) to M5 J18 (at Avonmouth)
- M5 J13-J15 Stroud to M4
- M5 J18-J19 Avonmouth Bridge
- M5 J20-J23 Clevedon to Bridgwater
The Met Office's warning for the red zone states: "Storm Eunice causing significant disruption and dangerous conditions due to extremely strong winds on Friday.
"What to expect: flying debris resulting in danger to life, damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down, uprooted trees, roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights, power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage, large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes, including flooding of some coastal properties."
Bristol City Council has advised schools to close tomorrow - see the full list confirmed so far on our live closures blog.
ALSO READ: What do red weather warnings actually mean?
READ MORE: Storm Eunice declared major incident in Bristol region
