National Grid Electricity Distribution published its storm preparations at 4pm on Wednesday 1 November 2023, ahead of Storm Ciarán. The network operator said the storm was expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain "today and tomorrow, particularly in South West England and South Wales"1.
Forecast gusts differ by area. In South West England, gusts are expected to peak at 70 to 80mph, most likely along coastal areas, with a few exposed coastal spots possibly seeing 85mph; inland, gusts of 65 to 75mph are possible1. In South Wales, gusts will likely peak at 50 to 55mph, while the very far west of West Wales may see gusts of up to 55 to 65mph along the coasts at times1. The heaviest rain in both areas was expected overnight1.
The operator listed its standby arrangements, including additional operational and engineering staff on stand-by to respond to network issues, additional contact and control centre operatives, arrangements to open offices early, and preparations to operate 24/7 in support of field staff1. Helicopters are available to fly and identify badly affected areas to hasten repairs if safe to do so from first light, and planned work will be cancelled as appropriate1.
"We have put a range of measures in place to ensure that we're ready to deal with potential power cuts."
The operator said its network is robust but that severe weather can affect overhead power lines, and urged anyone spotting a damaged power line to treat it as a live cable and report it1. Problems can be reported on the free 105 nationwide emergency telephone number1. National Grid also said it provides additional support during a power cut for its most vulnerable customers through its Priority Services Register1.
| Area | Forecast peak gusts |
|---|---|
| South West England, coastal | 70-80mph, a few exposed spots 85mph |
| South West England, inland | 65-75mph |
| South Wales | 50-55mph |
| Far west of West Wales, coasts | up to 55-65mph at times |
Why it matters for households
Storm damage to overhead lines is the main route by which a household loses power in these conditions, and a cut takes out heating controls, refrigeration, lighting and any mains-powered communications equipment at the same time. National Grid's own guidance notes that digital or cordless phones may not work in a power cut, and that freezer contents could stay frozen for up to 12 hours depending on the type of freezer, if the door is kept shut1. The operator's advice also covers keeping a battery or solar charger for a phone or tablet, having a torch or lantern ready rather than candles or paraffin lights, protecting sensitive equipment such as computers with a surge protector plug, and checking whether a mains-operated stair lift has a manual release handle1. For homes in the affected areas, the practical position is that grid supply is expected to hold in most cases but may not, and the operator has staff, control room capacity and aerial survey capability positioned to restore supplies. Households on the Priority Services Register are flagged for additional support during a cut1. No information on gas network preparations, or on any expected duration of outages, has been reported in this update.
What happens next
National Grid said it would provide its next update on the morning of Thursday 2 November1. Regular updates are to be published online and on social media1.
Sources1 cited
- [National Grid - We are prepared
](https://customer.nationalgrid.co.uk/we-are-prepared), customer.nationalgrid.co.uk