Flood warnings are in place for coastal regions ahead of Storm Eunice's arrival - including one covering the Severn Estuary at Severn Beach near Bristol.
The storm has already caused disruption in much of the country and she's not even made her way to land yet. A 'red' Met Office weather warning for wind has prompted precautionary announcements of closures to bridges, bus cancellations, school closures and the closure of popular Bristol attractions.
Storm Eunice is expected to bring severe gale force winds across the Bristol Channel early on Friday (February 18), coinciding with low spring tides, according to information on the Gov.uk website. Experts are expecting this to cause very large and powerful waves along the coast.
Read more: Bristol weather LIVE: Storm Eunice declared 'major incident' and schools closed
The Environment Agency has shared a red 'flood warning' for seafront properties at the Severn Estuary at Severn Beach. A warning is more serious than the usual amber 'flood alerts' and means "flooding is expected - act now".
High water is expected to be at 8.15am with a level of almost 7.5 metres above average sea level. The warning advises of Force 9 winds, understood to refer to the Beaufort wind force scale - where Force 12 is the highest and represents 'hurricane' level.
Flooding to properties is forecast at this time and conditions may apply two to four hours either side of the high tide, according to the warning. It adds: "We expect unsafe conditions from high wind and wave spray to affect the Severn Estuary from New Passage to the Severn View Industrial Park including low lying properties at New Passage and Shaft Road, Beach Road, Station Road and Riverside Park in Severn Beach."
The Gov.uk 'Check For Flooding Service' also states that teams are monitoring the situation and incident response staff are closing flood gates and liaising with emergency services. It advises avoiding coastal footpaths and roads.
List of flood alerts and warnings in and around the Bristol area
- Severn Estuary at Oldbury-on-Severn, Northwick and Avonmouth - Flood alert
- Severn Estuary at Severn Beach, seafront properties - Flood warning
- Tidal River Avon at Bristol, Pill and Shirehampton - Flood alert
- Somerset coast at Clevedon - Flood alert
There are other alerts and warnings for the Gloucester area and beyond. You can view the map here.
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Also read: Storm Eunice has Bristol Port on 'red warning' alert as high winds and 'tidal surge' expected
Read more: UK weather: Charts show blizzards and 90mph gales as Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice hammer Britain
