A WEATHER warning for high winds tonight has been issued for Bromsgrove and Rubery.
Because of the arrival of ‘Storm Aileen’ the Met Office forecasts from 8pm there will be gusts of between 40 and 50mph which will carry on into Wednesday morning.
Longer journey times by road, rail and air are to be expected, the Met Office said, as restrictions are placed on roads and bridges.
There is also a chance of power cuts in some areas, along with potential damage to trees and buildings.
Drivers are also being urged to take extra care on the region’s motorways and A roads tonight and tomorrow.
Highways England has offered the advice following the Met Office’s strong winds warning.
Among the stretches of road that motorists are being told to avoid or take extra care on are the M5, from Junctions 4 (Bromsgrove) to 5 (Droitwich) and Junctions 7 (Worcester) to 8 (Strensham).
Drivers of lorries, caravans and motorbikes are being advised to avoid these exposed sections of the road network.
Richard Leonard, had of Road User Safety at Highways England, said: “We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys, with strong winds and heavy rain expected from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning.
“In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down and avoid using exposed sections of road if possible.”
It generally takes at least twice as long to stop on a wet road as on a dry road because tyres have less grip on the surface. In wet weather you should:
• Slow down if the rain and spray from vehicles is making it difficult to see and be seen
• Keep well back from the vehicle in front as this will increase your ability to see and plan ahead
• Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually if the steering becomes unresponsive as it
probably means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road
Drivers are being advised to follow messages on the overhead signs and listen to radio updates.
Further information can be found by visiting the www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or calling the Highways England Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
