90mph Winds Storm Eowyn Met Office Alert

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Post on Jan 22, 2025

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90mph Winds Storm Eowyn: My Met Office Anxiety and How I Survived (Mostly!)

Okay, so, remember Storm Eowyn? The one the Met Office totally hyped up? Yeah, that one. I'm still finding bits of my garden fence in the neighbour's prize-winning begonias. Seriously, it was a nightmare. I mean, 90mph winds? That's not a gentle breeze, folks. That's enough to send your wheelie bin on a solo trip across town.

The Met Office Warnings: More Than Just Hype?

I usually kinda roll my eyes at Met Office warnings. You know, "Strong winds, possibility of rain," blah, blah, blah. But this one... this one was different. Amber warning? Red warning in some areas? I'm not gonna lie; I got seriously freaked out. I'd seen the weather models— those swirling vortexes of doom showing those 90mph gusts. My anxiety levels were through the roof. I felt like I was watching a disaster movie unfold on my phone.

My first mistake? Procrastination. I knew I should've prepped earlier. I’d seen the Met Office forecast days in advance. I should've secured loose items in the garden, boarded up vulnerable windows. But I didn't. I figured, "Oh, it'll probably be fine." Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

The Night the Wind Howled (and My Shed Flew Away)

The night Storm Eowyn hit was something else. It felt like the house was about to be lifted off its foundations. The wind howled like a banshee – a really, really angry banshee. I could hear things banging and crashing outside. And that was when I realized something was seriously wrong.

My usually dependable shed, which I thought was securely anchored, decided it had had enough. Bye bye, tools, bye bye, garden furniture, bye bye, half my summer stock of firewood, gone with the wind! I literally watched my shed—my beloved, slightly rusty, but fully functional shed— sail away into the darkness. It was surreal. Utterly surreal.

I peeked outside cautiously through the gap in the curtains. The neighbour's trampoline was doing a pretty convincing impression of a jellyfish. Trees were bending double and I swear one was actually trying to climb over the fence. It was crazy!

Lessons Learned: Preparing for Extreme Weather

So, what did I learn from this whole traumatic experience? Quite a bit actually.

• Heed the Met Office Warnings: Don’t be a fool like me. Seriously, if they issue an amber or red weather warning, take it seriously. Prepare early.
• Secure Loose Items: Anything that can blow away will blow away in 90mph winds. Secure everything – garden furniture, bins, anything on balconies, anything outdoors that could cause damage.
• Check Your Home: Check your roof, windows, and doors. Make sure everything is secure. Consider boarding up vulnerable areas, especially if you live in an older house.
• Have an Emergency Kit: Keep a stash of food, water, torches, a radio, and blankets in an easily accessible place. If the power goes out, you'll be glad you did.
• Don't Underestimate the Power of Nature: Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with. These extreme wind events can cause serious damage. It's better to be prepared than to be sorry. I learned that the hard way!

Storm Eowyn left me with more than just a destroyed shed and a hefty repair bill; it left me with a newfound respect for the power of extreme weather. And a whole lot of anxiety whenever I see an amber weather warning on my phone. I still haven't found all the pieces of my fence. If you see any odd-looking bits of wood, let me know!