Saturday: Flintshire Bridge to close from 5pm today due to expected strong winds

The A548 across Flintshire Bridge will close in both directions from 5 pm today, Saturday, December 9, due to strong wind gusts forecast to hit the region.

Met Éireann have named Storms Elin and Fergus, which will bring residual weekend impacts to the UK, with a number of Met Office warnings in force.

With gusts of 45 to 55 mph expected widely, and up to 70 mph along the Irish Sea coasts, authorities advise caution, particularly for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.

Several local councillors have posted on their Facebook pages: “Due to the forecasted wind gusts, Flintshire Bridge will be closed from 5 pm until midnight tonight.”

“Vehicles will be diverted via the A494(t), A55(t), and A5119 (Flint).”

The yellow warning, is effective in Flintshire until 11:45 pm on Saturday, covers all of Wales, a large part of central England, and the North West.

The Met Office states: “Winds will increase in the west during Saturday morning, then spread to other areas in the afternoon.”

“Gusts of 45 to 55 mph are likely quite widespread, with 60-70 mph possible along the Irish Sea coasts.”

“Winds will then ease slowly from the west through the evening.”

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “Wet and windy weather is the main theme of this weekend’s forecast, though some drier interludes in the south are expected on Saturday afternoon. Winds and rain could be disruptive at times, which has resulted in the issuing of weather warnings for both wind and rain. Winds could peak around 70 mph on exposed Irish Sea coasts, with gusts of around 45-55 mph likely quite widely in England and Wales. A further 20-30 mm of rain could fall over parts of Northern Ireland, northwest England and into southwest and central Scotland, with 40 mm over some high ground.”

Sunday will continue to see unsettled conditions, with periods of heavy rain affecting most of the UK, and western areas of Britain likely to experience more heavy rainfall into the evening.

A deep area of low pressure will also move towards the Republic of Ireland later in the day, reintroducing gusty winds, particularly in western areas, alongside this further rainfall.