WARNING:prepare for the weather storm all day Friday

I spoke too soon, the wind is starting.

The humour was quite conscious.

😁

Casdon

Elegran

Regard it as a chance to have a dry run at what you might have to prepare for later in the winter.

Exactly that. I don’t suppose the 70,000 in the south west who have lost their power today are regretting preparing for it in advance now.

Or those living in the Channel Islands.

Don't speak too soon. The day is still young, and the storm will move across the country. Some areas will have another storm tomorrow. Batten down the hatches.

Quiet here in N Surrey. Rain overnight and pretty damp out.

Its not rained simce 7am here in Bedfordshire and on my walk there was hardly a breeze. I bope no one has any damage.

Heavy rain and a little windy here in S Hants overnight until about 9, we’ve had a break, but skies are darkening and wind getting up now.

Was very calm this morning on the Shropshire/Powys border but heavy rain now and the wind is getting quite gusty.

Still windy here in SW Wales, but the rain has stopped and the sky is brightening. Not half as bad as we were led to believe. L was waiting for the promised trampolines. However more tomorrow.

The Met Office got it right then, I’ve just seen that 18000 homes are now without power, and part of Brighton Pier has collapsed into the sea. It’s not a case of I’m alright Jack for them, it’s grim being without power for long.

Elegran

The humour was quite conscious.

🤣🤣🤣
Suspected it might be!

Casdon

The Met Office got it right then, I’ve just seen that 18000 homes are now without power, and part of Brighton Pier has collapsed into the sea. It’s not a case of I’m alright Jack for them, it’s grim being without power for long.

Quite agree.

As for 'we've all been through it before and survived' ... well I remember watching news programmes with clips of people who had been in power cuts saying 'we didn't even have milk for a cup of tea' or 'we had no lights so we couldn't do anything until daylight and it was bloomin' cold with no heating'.

All anyone is suggesting is that if the storm is coming your way make sure you can cope without power for a few days and batten down the hatches just in case.

Casdon

The Met Office got it right then, I’ve just seen that 18000 homes are now without power, and part of Brighton Pier has collapsed into the sea. It’s not a case of I’m alright Jack for them, it’s grim being without power for long.

Oh no!

I hope everyone gets their power back asap, it's very chilly today. As for the pier, I have happy memories of going on there as a child, hope it can be restored.

Gosh, we came off lightly then, being SWWales and coastal. Right in the middle of the yellow warning area. Bright sunshine here now, and breezy.

I'm feeling very smug as I headed up to central London yesterday from Devon. Escaped the winds and the rain.
Well I would be feeling smug if the fire alarm hadn't gone off at our hotel in the night - first time I've been on the streets of London in my nightie!
Little puppy back home in Devon apparently is glued to the window, not knowing what to make of it all.

Been to V and A with friend today, transport only slightly affected in SW London, had a lovely day. We have wind and rain but nothing really concerning.

I received this earlier from Passenger Assistance who seem to have information the Met office haven't passed on to the rest of us.
26 November? That's some storm! I knew I should have got in more Sauv Blanc!

Agree, Casdon, it's miserable for those affected, especially older people on their own. If anyone reading is in the dark tonight: 105 gives updates on when it'll be back, the Priority Services Register is free and gets you checked on in future cuts, and a hot water bottle and a flask go a long way. Worth a phone call to anyone you know who lives alone in the south-west.

Casdon

The Met Office got it right then, I’ve just seen that 18000 homes are now without power, and part of Brighton Pier has collapsed into the sea. It’s not a case of I’m alright Jack for them, it’s grim being without power for long.

There wasn’t a lot left of the pier before the storm hit.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/26663627.pictures-show-storm-austen-hits-brighton-west-pier/#gallery1

The sea was very rough along the South coast today though, waves of 6-8 feet apparently. It’s always sad when landmarks go.

petra

Casdon

The Met Office got it right then, I’ve just seen that 18000 homes are now without power, and part of Brighton Pier has collapsed into the sea. It’s not a case of I’m alright Jack for them, it’s grim being without power for long.

There wasn’t a lot left of the pier before the storm hit.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/26663627.pictures-show-storm-austen-hits-brighton-west-pier/#gallery1

I realised afterwards that it was West Pier.
However, I do remember it from the 1950s when it was intact and very busy.

Is that the pier used in Oh What a Lovely War?

Hope they get their power back soon. We once had to go over a week without it but it doesn’t get so cold here. We also have a wood fire so that helped. Had to go to daughter’s house for a hot shower. I now keep a lot of candles just in case because I hate the darkness at night. All this was because some big gum trees blew across the powerlines - they take ages to fix things here. We get bushfires most years and those involved can lose power for weeks and weeks on end. Negatives of living in ‘God’s own’

Storm Beolo seems to have made landfall where I live. The heavy rain started at 10am and the winds are really whipping up. Just as well I got some shopping and a haircut before the storm.
Hope everyone is OK as I hate this sort of weather and what it can do.

Glad most of you came through it. With more rain today, a couple of quick things: if the power went off yesterday, check the freezer and anything that thawed and refroze. If in doubt, throw it out. And if you're on your own, worth joining your electricity network's Priority Services Register (free, ring 105), so they check on you in a long cut.