The Met Office has issued an Amber weather warning after Storm Eunice is set to bring extremely strong winds on Friday 18 February.  

We’re advising people to take note of the warning, think before they travel and to stay away from coastal areas.  

Our Emergency Planning Team are liaising with council teams and emergency agencies to ensure arrangements are in place to be able to respond to damage and /or disruption caused by the strong winds.  

Gale force winds caused by Storm Eunice are expected to be their strongest in coastal areas between 3am and 9pm on Friday, with gusts of up to 80mph possible. Strong winds are also expected to continue over the weekend.  

Large waves are likely along the seafronts with residents urged not to head out and take photographs as beach debris is likely to be thrown which can cause significant injury.  

Tor Bay Harbour Authority have also made a number of preparations to ensure the safety of the public, this includes closing some piers and docks.  

Cllr Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said; “The welfare and safety of all residents is a priority of ours, particularly during periods of extreme weather. By activating our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol today, we are guaranteeing overnight accommodation for anyone who is street homeless.”  

Cllr Darren Cowell, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council; “I’d like to strongly urge residents to stay away from coastal areas, particularly at times of high tide. Large waves are incredibly dangerous and bring with them a lot of debris. Our emergency services are likely to be dealing with a variety of emergencies so we need to do all we can to keep ourselves safe.” 

In preparation for Storm Eunice, we’ve put together the following information to help residents over the next 48 hours.  

Rough sleepers  

Our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers has been activated and will be in place for two nights from Thursday 17 February.  

Members of the public can report concerns for people sleeping rough and their location via Streetlink.  

Travel  

Most travel providers are reporting that it is very likely there will be substantial disruption across their services and are advising passengers to avoid travelling.  

If you must travel, check the status of your travel provider before you head out.  

Roads  

The best way to report any problems on Torbay’s roads such as fallen trees, traffic lights down, flooding, manhole covers open and problems on beaches is to call SWISCo on 01803 701318. Non-urgent repairs can be reported using ourreport a problem with a road or pavement page.  

COVID-19 vaccines and testing  

The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St Boniface Church in Paignton on Friday 18 February has been cancelled.  

Testing sites are due to operate as normal.  

Schools

Several schools have announced they will be closed on Friday 18 February. Check with your child's school before travelling.

Waste and recycling  

If your waste and recycling is due to be collected, please try to secure your bins and boxes and use the nets, if possible, to prevent recycling being blown around.  

Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey, the gardens and café will be closed on Friday 18 February. Normal opening hours will resume from Saturday 19 February. For the latest information visit www.torre-abbey.org.uk 

Weather and flooding  

Keep up to date with the latest weather advice via the Met Office – www.metoffice.gov.uk 

We will continue to monitor the weather forecast and update our information and advice accordingly.  

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