Strongest winds of winter could be on their way to Coventry

More rain expected from a succession of depressions heading our way

Although the media would have us believe that this has been the wettest winter for 250 years, it is so far only the wettest winter since 1989-90 in Coventry.

Longer term however, this has already been the wettest six month period from October to February in the city since 1882.

With another 16 days of winter still to come however, there is still plenty of time for record breaking with yet more rain expected from a succession of depressions heading our way, with another 75mm of rain expected locally by the beginning of March.

So on Wednesday, we await the next in the sequence of depressions that have crossed our region in recent weeks, and this one may just bring the strongest winds of the winter to our region, so batten down the hatches.

Although it dawned bright early today, it is rather cloudy with some spits and spots of rain; this may become more persistent g, with some heavy squally rain for a time midday, though it should brighten this afternoon with some blustery showers.

It will be respectably mild, with maximum temperatures of 8°C or so today, though it won't feel it in a strengthening south to south-westerly breeze; this is a touch above average (7.2°C) for the 12th February in Coventry over the past 30 years or so.

There may well be some wintry showers this evening and overnight with minimum temperatures 2°C or so, and it will remain rather breezy.

Thursday looks like being a cool, breezy day with sunshine and showers, with maximum temperatures around 6°C.

Outlook: another deep depression is heading our way for Friday into Saturday with wind and heavy rain.

Nuneaton Market is cancelled again



WINDY weather has once again forced the cancellation of Nuneaton's market.

It is the third time in a week that the market has been postponed due to bad weather.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council say that the predicted high winds today have once again forced the decision to cancel the market.

Forecasts were for winds of 21mph at noon which were expected to increase to 29mph by 6pm.

Like the last two market days that have previously been cancelled, the wind gusts are predicted to reach 40mph at noon, increasing to 56mph by 6pm. The market stalls are designed to withstand winds of up to 25mph at a maximum, so in the interests of public and stall holder safety, the council with support from the Market Traders Federations stopped the street market based on the Met Office's predictions, which have been accurate to date. Shoppers are being reminded that Bedworth's indoor market along with Nuneaton's range of shops, bars and cafes will be open as usual so there is still plenty to do in the town centres.

Ian Powell, director of regeneration and public protection at the Town Hall, said: "We sympathise with shoppers and traders frustrations about again cancelling the popular market, but we are not prepared for anyone, be it shopper or trader, coming to harm due to the strong winds.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and currently the forecast for Saturday's weather, whilst still windy, appears significantly better."

Gale force winds and torrential rain batter Coventry and Warwickshire

Gale force winds and torrential rain battered Coventry and Warwickshire today - with more to come on Friday.

Several roads were blocked by fallen trees, buildings suffered minor structural damage and rail commuters faced travel chaos.

Steve Jackson, of Coventry’s Bablake Weather Station, said today’s storm was the latest in a “sequence of depressions that have crossed our region in recent weeks”.

The Met Office said the highest recorded gust of wind in the region was 48mph - classed as a severe gale on the Beaufort Scale - at around 3 pm in Church Lawford, between Coventry and Rugby.

There were trees down across the region, including Birmingham Road in Allesley, Brownshill Green Road in Brownshill Green, Adkinson Avenue in Dunchurch, Harbury Lane in Bishop’s Tachbrook, Banbury Road in Warwick, Warwick Road in Stratford, Main Road in Binton, Stratford Road in Oversley Green, the A45 London Road at Willoughby, the A422 Alcester Road in Stratford, the A428 Crick Road in Hillmorton, Newton Manor Lane in Newton, and Ingon Lane in Stratford.

Newton Road in Newton Road and Kenilworth Road in Hampton-in-Arden were also flooded, and electricity cables were brought down in Branson’s Cross in Redditch.

A couple of roof panels came off Warwick University’s International Manufacturing Centre, in University Road, off Gibbet Hill Road, and several tiles were torn off the roof of the Coventry Telegraph building, at the Canal Basin.

Network Rail said it planned to close the West Coast Main Line between Preston and Lancaster for two hours from 7pm because of the high winds,

Mr Jackson said: “Although the media claim that this has been the wettest winter for 250 years, it is so far only the wettest winter since 1989-90 in Coventry.”

“Longer term however, this has already been the wettest six month period from October to February in the city since 1882.

“With another 16 days of winter still to come however, there is still plenty of time for record breaking with yet more rain expected from a succession of depressions heading our way, with another 75mm of rain expected locally by the beginning of March.

“Thursday looks like being a cool, breezy day with sunshine and showers but another deep depression is heading our way for Friday into Saturday with wind and heavy rain.”

Nuneaton market traders battle against the elements


Traders in a windy Nuneaton town centre just before the torrential downpours strike

NUNEATON market traders defied Mother Nature as they braved yesterday's stormy weather.

Despite the town's market being cancelled due to the forecast of high winds, around five stall holders took to the streets to ensure they did not lose another day's trade.

They were forced to endure powerful winds and severe rainfall while the treacherous conditions unfortunately deterred shoppers from venturing outside.

It was the third time in a week that the market has been postponed due to bad weather, but traders selling perishable goods were still allowed to set up stalls at their own risk.

But as the conditions continued into the afternoon, the last stall holder began packing up at 3.30pm.

The trader said: "There was about five of us, but people started to leave when the weather got really bad. They didn't miss much trade."

It is not yet known if Saturday's market will go ahead or if Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council will again be forced to cancel.

It was not just the traders who suffered due to the storms - motorists were also advised to take care.

Police reported a lorry that had lost its load on Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton.

Pallets were blown from the lorry onto the road at around 1.50pm causing problems for motorists.

Fallen trees were reported in Greenmoor Road, Nuneaton, in Colliers Way, Arley and in Lower House Lane, Baddesley Ensor due to the blustery conditions.

A tree was also blown down in Exhall Road, Keresley End, crushing an empty car.

As more wet and windy weather is forecast over the coming days, a spokesperson for Warwickshire Police is advising drivers to be cautious.

The spokesperson said: "We would advise motorists to take care.

"Tree roots have been loosened due to the heavy rain, meaning they are more unstable and could be knocked down easier by the wind."

The Safer Roads Partnership in Warwickshire are also advising people to take care with flooding on the roads. People are advised to drive slowly through smaller areas of standing water and not drive through large areas of flood water.

Firefighters rescue Coventry woman stuck up to her waist in mud



Firefighters had to rescue a woman in Coventry who got stuck up to her waist in mud today.

The woman was walking her dog in a field off Pound Close in Berkswell and had to be checked over by paramedics.

Fire officers from Canley were called out this afternoon at around 2pm and had to struggle against the mud themselves as they freed her from the farmer’s field.

Crew commander Dave Howells said: “In some places the field was firm and other places it was a bog.

“The lady started to sink and the more she wriggled, the more she went down and the suction of the mud kept her there.

“She was shouting for help and someone in a nearby garden heard her and called 999.

“We went as far in to the field as we could and then used shovels, sheets and ladders to create a base. We then sat her down on a ladder behind her and dug her out.”

The lady’s son, who arrived just after she had been rescued, said: “She often walks through the field which has a right of way and got stuck, but she is okay now she has had some hot food.

“The firefighters were great and even had to rescue one of their own who got stuck.”

Meanwhile strong winds and rain were expected to return to Coventry and Warwickshire on Friday.

Rain is likely to be heaviest tomorrow morning, with gales of about 40mph predicted by the evening.

A spokesman for Bablake Weather Station in Coventry said: “Rain will be spreading in soon after dawn on Friday, with a wet day in prospect with rain heaviest in the morning; winds will be strengthening too with gales by evening.

"It will become windy again on Friday night into Saturday morning with yet more local gales and again Sunday night into Monday.”

There is a glimmer of hope with sunshine predicted during the day on Sunday.

Next week is looking unsettled, with further rain being predicted by Bablake Weather Station.

But a spokesman said: “Looking ahead to the end of the month, it may just become less wet, with temperatures dropping back a touch, just as we approach spring.”

Coventy and Warwickshire - like the rest of the country - have been battered by winds and torrential rain this week.

Bablake Weather Station recorded its highest February wind speeds since 1988, as gales hit the 57mph mark on Wednesday.

Trees were brought down across the region, and there was flooding in Newton and Hampton-in-Arden.

Families leaving the region for half term are being asked to take extreme care when driving through worst hit areas.

Darron Burness, head of the AA’s flood rescue team, said: “Allow extra time for tomorrow’s commute as road conditions are going to be pretty horrible at times with more wind and heavy rain, and risk of snow and ice further north."