RESIDENTS are being urged to expect ‘extremely strong winds’ this week as Storm Eunice rolls into town.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for powerful gusts, with the alert carrying the service’s ‘danger to life’ warning.

The warning for Cheshire and Merseyside comes into force on Thursday at midnight and will remain in place through to 9pm on Friday evening.

It comes after Storm Dudley, which will hit Scotland and areas of northernmost England from 3pm on Wednesday.

The Met Office says Storm Eunice will bring a period of ‘very strong winds that could cause significant disruption’.

There is a small chance that flying debris will result in a ‘danger to life’, with fallen trees, damage to buildings and homes, roofs blown off and power lines brought down possible.

Meteorologists also say that there is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.

Northwich Guardian:

Where damaging winds occur, there is a chance that long interruptions to power supplies and other services may occur.

In addition, there is a small chance that roads, bridges and railway lines could close, with long delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights.

A Met Office spokesman said: “Extremely strong winds may develop over southwest England early on Friday, before spreading north and east during the morning.

“It is not yet clear where within the warning area the strongest winds will be, but gusts of 60 to 70mph are possible over a reasonably large area, with a small chance of a brief period of gusts reaching 80mph even inland.

“Coastal winds are likely to be the strongest.

“In addition to the wind, there is the potential for a period of snow and perhaps blizzard conditions, most likely over northern England, parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and north Wales.

“However, this is very dependent on the track of the weather system, and most places will see heavy rain instead.”