Storm Eunice hits Somerset on Friday

An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office with Storm Eunice expected to hit from 3am and lasting into Saturday.

We'll be covering what's happening throughout the day tomorrow (Friday), bringing you live updates of the situation across Somerset.

Let us know what's happening in your area - and share your pictures with us and our audience.

The Met Office is warning people to expect:

• a good chance that flying debris could result in a danger to life;
• damage to buildings and homes is likely, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down;
• roads, bridges and railway lines are likely to close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights;
• a good chance that power cuts, possibly prolonged, could occur and possibly affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage;
• large waves are likely and beach material is likely to be thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties;
• it is likely there will be falling branches and some uprooted trees.

The Met Office upgraded its warning from yellow to amber earlier this week with "significant disruption" forecast.

Travel Somerset workers are going to be out throughout tonight and into tomorrow.

A spokesperson said: "Our highways teams will be mobilised and on duty throughout Thursday night and Friday to deal with fallen trees and other hazards."

The wind gusts are likely to be between 65mph and 75mph in Somerset, weakening on Friday and overnight.

But winds and showers will be back on Saturday afternoon.

Western Power Distribution will have extra staff at the ready to deal with any problems arising and to restore power supplies "quickly and safely if they are disrupted".

The company will have:

• Additional operational and engineering staff ready and on stand-by to respond to any network issues.
• Additional Contact and control Centre operatives available to manage the electricity network and to help customers with their enquiries.
• Put arrangements in place to open offices early as required.
• Preparations to operate 24/7 in support of operational field staff (e.g. IT, communications).
• Home workers are available to assist throughout the business and ramp up rooms are on standby to open if necessary.
• Helicopters available to fly and identify badly affected areas to hasten repairs if safe to do so from first light.
• Planned work will be cancelled as appropriate.

Tips on how you can prepare in case of a power cut:

Keep the power company's telephone number handy or save it in your mobile phone (105 or 0800 6783 105) so that you can report a power cut or call for information and advice.

Keep a battery/solar charger handy so that you can recharge your smart phone or tablet and follow updates on social media, our online power cut map or Power Cut Reporter app.

Keep your freezer shut – depending on the type of freezer you have, the contents could stay frozen for up to 12 hours.

Check that you have a phone available that will work in a power cut – digital or cordless ones may not work.

Have things like a torch or lantern ready (it is best not to use candles or paraffin lights).

Protect sensitive electrical equipment such as computers with a surge protector plug.

If you have a mains operated stair lift, check to see if there is a manual release handle that can be used to return it safely to ground level if it stops working.

If you need to report a problem, use the free 105 nationwide emergency telephone number.

For the most vulnerable customers, WPD also provides additional support during a power cut - there's information on the Priority Services Register on its website.

The WPD network outage map is live and shows localities currently affected, it is available here.

We are prepared

This week looks to bring a period of unsettling weather with two named storms bringing heavy winds and rain across the UK.

Storm Dudley is expected to bring strong winds to the north of the country on Wednesday evening through to Thursday morning.

Storm Eunice is expected to follow soon after, bringing strong winds and showers across many parts of our region throughout Friday into Saturday morning, bringing potential disruption to our network.

We know that storm conditions can be a worrying time for our customers, so we have put a range of measures in place to ensure we’re ready for any impact on the electricity network.

Weather forecast

Wednesday 16 February

South West England - Amber alert - Storm Dudley will pass north of the region but will bring showers and strong winds as it passes. Winds will increase during the late morning and afternoon, reaching a peak gust of 45-55mph. These will then decrease overnight.

South Wales - Amber alert - Storm Dudley will pass north of the region but will bring showers and strong winds as it passes through. Wind gusts are expected to reach 50-60mph in the afternoon and evening, with the strongest of the winds being in coastal areas. These conditions will decrease slightly overnight.

Midlands - Amber alert - Storm Dudley will track through Scotland late into the day and into the North Sea overnight. This will bring showers and strong winds as it passes. Showers and wind are expected to increase during the afternoon and into the evening, with peak gusts expecting to reach 55-60mph.

Thursday 17 February

South West England - Amber alert - Showery conditions will continue in the morning, afternoon and early evening. Gusty winds will continue through the day with gusts near 40-45mph and 50mph at times. Winds will weaken in the evening and then increase again late at night

South Wales - Amber alert - Showery conditions will continue in the morning, afternoon and early evening. Winds will weaken in the evening and will increase late at night with peak gusts reaching 60mph along exposed coastal areas.

Midlands - Amber alert - Storm Dudley will depart early with lingering gusty winds. Mostly dry through Thursday with a few isolated showers in the early evening. Gusty winds will occur Thursday morning and into the afternoon. Wind gusts may reach 45-55 mph, which will be strongest in eastern areas in the morning. Winds will weaken in the afternoon but increase again overnight.

Friday 18 February

South West England - Red alert - Storm Eunice will pass north of the region, bringing very strong winds and showers. Showers will continue through Friday morning and afternoon before tapering to spotty showers late in the afternoon/early evening and overnight. Very strong winds will develop, peaking in the afternoon with gusts likely to reach 65-75mph. These will weaken Friday evening and overnight.

South Wales - Red alert - Storm Eunice will pass through the region, bringing very strong winds and showers. Showers will continue through Friday but taper into the evening. Winds will increase Friday morning and early afternoon, reaching 70-80mph. These will weaken overnight.

Midlands - Red alert - Storm Eunice is expected to bring strong winds through the region on Friday morning and weaken into the evening. Winds gusts are expecting to reach 60-75mph across the region. Showers will continue throughout Friday morning and afternoon before tapering late into the evening.

Saturday 19 February

South West England - Amber alert – Winds and showers will arrive in the afternoon and may continue in northern areas in the evening and night. Winds will weaken overnight.

South Wales - Amber alert – Showers will arrive in the morning and may continue in northern areas in the evening and night. Winds may occur in the afternoon but will weaken overnight.

Midlands - Green alert – Dry weather is expected Saturday morning, showers will arrive late afternoon but taper into the evening.

We’re prepared

Preparations will be in place so that, whatever the weather, we can work to restore power supplies quickly and safely for you if they are disrupted. In particular, we have:

• Additional operational and engineering staff ready and on stand-by to respond to any network issues.

• Additional Contact and control Centre operatives available to manage the electricity network and to help customers with their enquiries.

• Put arrangements in place to open offices early as required.

• Preparations to operate 24/7 in support of operational field staff (e.g. IT, communications).

• Home workers are available to assist throughout the business and ramp up rooms are on standby to open if necessary.

• Helicopters available to fly and identify badly affected areas to hasten repairs if safe to do so from first light.

• Planned work will be cancelled as appropriate.

Tips on how you can prepare in case of a power cut

We have some useful tips that you may find helpful to help you prepare for Storm Dudley & Storm Eunice:

1. Keep our telephone number handy or save it in your mobile phone (105 or 0800 6783 105) so that you can report a power cut or call for information and advice.

2. Keep a battery/solar charger handy so that you can recharge your smart phone or tablet and follow updates on social media, our online power cut map or Power Cut Reporter app.

3. Keep your freezer shut – depending on the type of freezer you have, the contents could stay frozen for up to 12 hours.

4. Check that you have a phone available that will work in a power cut – digital or cordless ones may not work.

5. Have things like a torch or lantern ready (it is best not to use candles or paraffin lights).

6. Protect sensitive electrical equipment such as computers with a surge protector plug.

7. If you have a mains operated stair lift, check to see if there is a manual release handle that can be used to return it safely to ground level if it stops working.

If you need to report a problem, please use the free 105 nationwide emergency telephone number.

For our most vulnerable customers, we also provide additional support during a power cut. We have more information on the Priority Services Register on our website.

Our network outage map is live and shows localities currently affected, it is available here.