Yellow wind warning for Cornwall tonight with 65mph coastal gusts

If you’ve got plans that take you anywhere near the coast this evening, or a late drive home across open ground, it’s worth looking at the sky before you set off.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind covering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, running from 6pm this evening (Monday 26 October) until 3am tomorrow morning.

How strong will it get?

South to south-westerly winds will build from the west through Monday evening. Inland, gusts of 45 to 50mph are expected. Along exposed coasts and over high ground, that rises to 60 to 65mph.

Heavy rain will come with it at times.

The winds should ease from the west during the early hours of Tuesday, before picking up again across northern parts of the UK on Tuesday morning.

📷The yellow wind warning area in the South West. Credit: Met Office

What the warning means for you

The Met Office rates the chance of impacts as high (50 to 75%), with a moderate impact. In practice, that means you could see:

• Spray and large waves hitting coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities
• Delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport
• Some bus and train journeys taking longer
• Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges
• Possible loss of power and other services

What to do

On the coast

Large waves are the big risk. Even from the shore, breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. If you’re walking near cliffs, know your route and keep dogs on a lead.

In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

If you’re travelling

Check road conditions before you drive, or look at bus and train timetables, and change your plans if you need to.

At home

Power cuts are easier to cope with if you’re ready for them. Torches and batteries, a charged mobile phone power pack and any other essentials are worth gathering before the wind picks up.

Which areas are covered?

The warning stretches well beyond Cornwall. In the South West it also takes in Devon, Dorset, Plymouth and Torbay. Parts of Wales, North West England, south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland are included too.

Warnings can change quickly, so the Met Office advises keeping up to date with the forecast for your area. You can check the latest on the Met Office weather warnings page, and find more forecasts in our Cornwall weather section.

The warning was issued at 8.39am today and runs until 3am.