Storm Eunice – general advice and waste collections
An amber weather warning has been issued for the Solent area as Storm Eunice is expected to hit with high-speed winds.
The Met Office has now upgraded its initial yellow alert for 3am to 9pm on Friday 18 February forecasting gusts of up to 100mph along the south coast. Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the track of Eunice, there is an increasing likelihood of widespread inland wind gusts of 60-70 mph and up to 80 mph in a few places. The Met Office are also warning that there is a good chance that flying debris could result in a danger to life together with the likelihood of falling branches and some uprooted trees.
For these reasons residents are advised, if possible, to:
- stay indoors during the worst of the weather
- allow extra time to travel as there will be disruption to services and roads
- secure your property, garden furniture and any other objects that could blow away and become a hazard
- stay away from coastal areas, parks and woodlands.
Waste & recycling collections are planned to go ahead as usual but this will be kept under review during the day. Once bins are emptied they will become easier to be blown over so residents are encouraged to take their wheeled bins in as soon as they are collected to avoid lids being blown open and bins being blown around.
So residents are being asked not to put bins out overnight for Friday collections to reduce the time they are left out at the kerbside. Instead wait until first thing tomorrow morning in case overnight winds blow them over, causing rubbish to be strewn around the street.
Other useful tips:
- Make sure bin lids are closed and secure
- If available at the kerbside, put your bin alongside a wall, fence or shelter
- If there is no shelter at the kerbside, place bins in clusters with your neighbours' bins