- Red weather warnings have been issued by Met Office across Wales due to storm
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All football matches scheduled to take place in Wales on Saturday 7 have been postponed due to Storm Darragh, which is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rain, the Football Association of Wales has announced.
In a statement, the body confirmed that it had taken the extraordinary measure after advice from the Met Office, which has issued rare red weather warnings in the country.
Storm Darragh is sweeping in across the Atlantic, bringing with it 90mph winds and torrential downpours set to spark flooding and travel chaos in parts of Britain.
‘The Met Office has issued red, amber, and yellow weather warnings for the vast majority of Wales due to Storm Darragh, which is expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rain, causing significant disruption and danger to life,’ the statement from the FAW began.
‘It is not safe to drive in such weather, including travelling to and from football matches. Being outside in high winds increases the risk of injury and The Met Office advises people to stay indoors if possible.
‘Clubs have been advised to check for and secure any loose items around their grounds if it can be done safely. This includes bins, furniture, goalposts, and fences etc.
All football matches in Wales on Saturday have been postponed due to Storm Darragh, which is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rain
The Met Office has issued an 18-hour amber wind warning along the UK’s west coast from South Ayrshire down to Cornwall (pictured) , as well as in Northern Ireland, will run on Saturday from 3am to 9pm.
‘Potential postponements of fixtures on Friday 6 December and Sunday 8 December will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with each individual league’s policy.’
Meteorologists said a period of ‘extremely strong winds’ will develop during the early hours of Saturday morning as the low pressure system moves across the Irish Sea.
The ‘significant disruption’ warning from 3am until 11am covers most of the coast of Wales including Cardiff and Swansea, as well as parts of Bristol and North Somerset.
That could mean that various Football League and non-league fixtures could also be affected, though at this point there has been announcement from the FA.
Championship side Bristol City welcome QPR to Ashton Gate in the early fixture on Saturday, while in the National League Yeovil Town are set to entertain Braintree Town at 3pm.
Forecasters told residents to ‘stay indoors if you can’ and ‘avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous conditions – it is not safe to drive in these conditions’.
Homeowners were urged to secure loose items outside their properties such as Christmas decorations, bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.
The red alert, issued just after 10am on Friday, also urged people to ‘consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items’.
Red warnings are a rare event, with the last one issued by the Met Office just under a year ago on January 21, 2024 for 99mph Storm Isha – and Friday is only the 19th time in records dating back to 2011 that a red warning has been imposed.
The Met Office has also issued a 39-hour yellow wind warning for the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and much of Scotland, from 3pm today until 6am on Sunday.
And an 18-hour amber wind warning along the UK’s west coast from South Ayrshire down to Cornwall, as well as in Northern Ireland, will run on Saturday from 3am to 9pm.
