Electricity North West says it is prepared for Storm Agnes

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind across not only Cumbria but also the entirety of the north and most of the west of England, and all of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Storm Agnes will move into western areas of the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, with the strongest winds most likely on Irish Sea coasts, though it will be a widely windy day across the UK.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Storm Agnes will approach southwest Ireland early on Wednesday and track northeast across Northern Ireland and Scotland before clearing on Thursday morning. Gusts of 45-55 mph are expected widely inland and 50-60 mph over hills and around coasts.

“The strongest winds are expected to affect Northern Ireland, southwest Scotland, west and northwest Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire where some places inland may see gusts of 60 mph and 65-75 mph over hills and around coasts. These are most likely during the second half of Wednesday afternoon and through the evening."

Electricity North West customer director Stephanie Trubshaw said: “While Agnes will be the first officially named storm of the season, we work all year to make our network as resilient as it can be.

The yellow weather warning zone for Storm Agnes (Image: Met Office)

"We always have engineers on standby and when bad weather is forecast we ramp this up where needed across our patch to ensure a quick response.

“We’ll have local teams available to respond quickly on the ground across the North West and our customer team will be available for support if you need us.

"High winds can blow debris into overhead lines and localised flooding can sometimes affect the underground network too, so we’re doing everything we can to be prepared.

“If anybody sees any damage to electricity equipment over the next few days then I urge them to stay away and report it to us immediately by calling 105.”

The wind warning highlights the chance of some damage to building from strong winds, as well as the possibility of power cuts for some. Transport disruption is also likely, with some roads and bridges likely to close.  

Steve Basterfield, National Network Manager at National Highways, said: “With the stormy weather being forecast, it is important to plan ahead for your journey, and if weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour and take extra care.

“We have a section of our website dedicated to travelling amid storms, high winds and gales, and considerations for different types of vehicle, as part of our guide to travelling in severe weather. It’s also a good idea for people to check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns.”