Grim Birmingham Bank Holiday weather forecast with warnings for …

Birmingham and the West Midlands should be braced for worsening weather conditions from Bank Holiday Monday[1], the Met Office warned. Forecasters issued grim predictions from Easter Monday onwards including a yellow weather warning for high winds on Tuesday and Wednesday that could bring power cuts and travel chaos[2]. Rain followed by strong winds are expected to sweep into the region from tonight, Sunday, April 9, and into the early part of the week.

National Highways warned motorists should be braced for dangerous conditions on the roads from Tuesday due to strong winds. Cancelled bus services, delays on the roads and power cuts were listed as possible side-effects of the weather conditions by the Met Office[3]. Showers were set to dampen holiday spirits from 1am to 2am tonight across Birmingham to herald the Bank Holiday.

After a brief dry spell, rain was expected to continue from 6am on Monday in spells through the day until 1am on Tuesday, April 11. And from 3pm on Tuesday, there are yellow warnings - covering much of the Midlands - in place for strong winds. A Met Office forecaster said: "A period of strong winds is bringing the potential for some disruption on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely with probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer.

"Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely and some short term loss of power and other services is possible." A National Highways spokesperson advised motorists to take caution on the roads from Tuesday. They said: "Please be aware that the Met Office has forecast strong winds from 3pm Tuesday until late Wednesday.

"This will affect England's North West, South West, West Midlands and South East regions." TAKE PART IN OUR POLL: Do you support the Passport Office strikes?[5] National Highways warned vehicles most at risk in strong winds were transit vans with modifications, caravans being towed, HGVs, motorhomes and motorbikes, as shown in the poster above.

References

1. ^ Bank Holiday Monday (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ travel chaos (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ the Met Office (www.metoffice.gov.uk)
4. ^ Infamous 'dogging' hotspot off M5 where naked people cavorted in horse box (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Do you support the Passport Office strikes? (xd.wayin.com)