Storm Eunice set to batter UK with savage winds on Friday! National Highways and The Met Office have issued a severe weather alert for the entire strategic road network from 6am to 6pm on 18th February 2022.
The deadly storm will surge east-northeast across northern England, unleashing ruthless 60-70mph gusts widely, with coastal hotspots and bridges hammered by winds up to 80mph – and possibly stronger inland. Brace for peak gusts of 90mph around the Bristol Channel, including Avonmouth and the Severn Bridges.
These brutal winds threaten havoc: expect flying debris, damage to infrastructure, power outages, and extremely dangerous driving conditions, especially for vulnerable vehicles like caravans and motorbikes.
Snow will also hit routes above 200m from Lancashire and Yorkshire northwards, draping the southern Pennines in 1-3cm of slushy snow and possibly 10-15cm over the A66. Winds will roar at 60-70mph across the North West and North East from early afternoon, adding to the disruption.
The wind will ease slowly from the southwest in the afternoon but remain strong through the night, likely delaying any clean-up efforts.
High-sided and vulnerable vehicle drivers must avoid these perilous routes:
East of England
South West
- A30 / A38 Bodmin
- M4 J22-J23 Severn Crossing
- M48 J1-J2 Severn Crossing
- M49 from M4 J22 (Severn Crossing) to M5 J18 (Avonmouth)
- M5 J13-J15 Stroud to M4
- M5 J18-J19 Avonmouth Bridge
- M5 J20-J23 Clevedon to Bridgwater
- A35 Long Bredy dual carriageway
- A38 Tamar Bridge from 123
- M5 J1-J2 West Bromwich to Dudley
- M5 J4-J5 Kidderminster to Redditch
- M5 J7-J8 Worcester to M50 (Strensham Services)
- M6 J6-J8 Spaghetti Junction to Friar Park (M5)
- M6 J15-J16 Keele Services to Audley
North East
- M1 J32 M18 Interchange
- M1 J34 Tinsley Viaduct/Rotherham
- M1 J39-J40 Crigglestone to Desbury
- A628 Woodhead Pass
- M62 J23-J25 Huddersfield to Brighouse
- M62 J31-J32 Normanton to Pontefract
- M62 J35a-J36 Rawcliffe Bridge, M18 Interchange to J36 Goole
- M62 J36-J37 River Ouse/Ouse Bridge
- A1M J47-J49 Between A59 Knaresborough and A168 Dishforth
- A1M J58-J65 Between A1 and Washington at J65
- A66 Between A1 (Scotch Corner) and M6 J40
- A19 Hylton Bridge over River Wear
- A19 Tees Viaduct
- A69 Between A1 to M6
- A15 Humber Bridge
North West
- M53 J1-J2
- M56 J12 Runcorn to Sutton Weaver
- M58 J1 Kirkby
- M6 J20-J21 Thelwall Viaduct
- M6 J26-J27 M58 to Standish
- M6 J36-J45 Through Cumbria
- M60 J10-J12 Barton Bridge to M62
- M60 J16-J17 Pendlebury and Kersley to Prestwich and Whitefield
- M62 J18-J27 Between Manchester and Leeds
- M61 J4-J5
- M61 J9/M65 J1 Interchange
- A56 Between M64 and A680 at Edenfield
- M65 J3-J4 Withnell and Blackburn Interchange
- A66 Between M6 J40 and A1 (Scotch Corner)
- A69 Between M6 to A1
Travelling on these routes this Friday? Plan ahead and check your journey before setting off. Obey all overhead signs and stay tuned to 1 for the latest traffic and weather info. Safety first!
