Storm arriving soon! Batten down the hatches.

If the storm hits and your electricity goes out, here's an idea I devised one stormy winter when I didn't have enough candlesticks.

Fold a teatowel or some other cloth, around a candle, wet it well (not dripping) and put it into a mug.

It's safer and better than the dangerous old trick of melting a bit of wax onto a saucer and sticking the candle to it.
It also has a handle!

If by any chance it get knocked over, the wet cloth helps extinguish.

1087. I didn`t live there then but my last village, they still talk about the roofs that blew off. I was in Bridgend and people were called home from work because their windows had blown in.

I am sitting supping tea now, trying not to get anxious but it is getting more gusty by the hour. A wind map
www.xcweather.co.uk/

oh dear, I did mean 1987

craftyone. many years ago (but can’t beat your 1087!) during a bad storm there was a terrific crack, bang, like a bomb had gone off and yes, the roof had blown off the old house on the corner. Slates and debris everywhere.

The emergency services, police and fire brigade, arrived and cordoned off the whole road.

That village was in somerset.

Very windy in Kent but I wouldn't say storm force yet
The Dartford crossing is closed.

Does anyone else get twitchy with the wind? It is also full moon time. I have to say that I am glad to be in a new build house. Yehbutnobut, doesn`t bear thinking about, roofs lifting, chimneys falling and trees crashing down

That site says 40-70 mph winds for my postcode.
Great link craftyone

Oooh, its whistling round the chimney pots now. I do hope our tiles stay put. I’d thought about having a long leisurely bath but perhaps I should save the hot water just in case the electricity goes off. I heard most of Great Yarmouth lost power last night and that was before the wind got up!

Sitting here with a cup of tea and looking out the window. I can see grey skies and a little movement in the trees and bushes. I have no idea how bad it's going to be here in South East London? But on the basis that I am inclined to always have something to worry about there is scaffolding all over a house a couple of doors away - just hope it doesn't get blown down
I hope all you Gransnetters - and your property - keep safe!!

Washing machine weather here in Hampshire. Will stay in today methinks.

Good morning from a blustery Oxford.

I couldn't sleep last night, worrying about the storm being like the 1987 one, when over 100 tiles were blown off my roof into the street.

At the moment it's not as bad as anticipated. I'm not planning a journey any further than to the end of the garden to let the hens out.

Thinking of those of you that are faring worse than Oxford (I think we've got the worst yet to come)

We have survived the night here in my little corner of S.W Scotland, all of my trees are still standing as are the sheds. I will venture to the village in the next hour to see who and what is standing. That was a wild night and we only have 3 more nights like it left to go

The chair where I put yesterday's clothes is a pool of water .
A drip on the landing. Oh dear. There must be some slates off the roof.
I have moved the chair. Now to get a bucket.

The soil is very soft and wet at the moment, there will be many trees down, its like a sustained pushing force and the roots will give, especially shallow rooted conifers. Best to stay in

My house is W/E and the garden is behind in the E so things are more sheltered this time. Wind is S-S/W now but is gradually veering W. I never thought about wind shelter when I bought. The garage door faces W and there will be masses of driving rain later. A few months ago I put a garage door threshold down to stop water creep into my garage, which is really my workshop with a foam floor. It has worked 100% so far. I cannot check it while we are so windy, the curtesy side door might get taken by the wind and its not worth the risk

My brother in the wirral is waiting for a lull and will be going out with binoculars to check his roof. It looks as though we will be geiing bad wind until roughly midnight on tuesday.

Maybe cut down on the baked beans Craftyone?

Windy, but not gail force. Greenwich and other London Parks closed.

It’s getting pretty gusty here in Ealing west London not raining though yet.

I'm in NE London/Essex - and a bit underwhelmed tbh. Yes, it's gusty, but not too bad.

It's been a bit blustery here but not a twig down from our tree - is the worst yet to come?

St.Andrews had a quiet night , I was expecting a terror night with lots of damage and bins and rubbish everywhere . I can hear the wind rising but nothing much .

Everywhere looked dry first thing but it just started raining
a few seconds ago and with some force against the west facing windows.

Just mildly windy here in the NW of England.

Craftyone great link. Thank you. It’s wild and wet here near Heathrow but everything standing apart from temporary barricades where Gas main being replaced. They are in colourful heaps everywhere.?

So far, here on the edge of London, where I am, it doesn't appear at the moment to be too severe, somewhat gusty, but I better not talk too soon have yet to venture out to the supermarket to pick up some essentials including the Sunday paper.

I hope those who have been struck by the worst of it haven't been affected too badly.