Storm Henry - Monday 1st

[gavin]

Hot on the heels of Storm Gertrude we now have Storm Henry which is set to batter large parts of the UK on Monday an amber wind warning is already out for north west Scotland with yellow warnings for large parts of the UK.

Further disruption to the rail network looks inevitable and alterations could start and be made available during tomorrow like they did for storm Gertrude

 

[PHILIPE]

According to NRE website, Scotrail cancelling trains from 14 00 Monday.

 

[cf111]

According to NRE website, Scotrail cancelling trains from 14 00 Monday.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx - Hit "Poor weather conditions in north England and Scotland on Saturday 30 January"

Monday 1 February

Further high winds and heavy rain is expected on Monday 1 February. .

The following alterations will apply:

Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh suspended after 14:00. Last services to run will be 12:08 Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness and 11:00 Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Fort William / Mallaig suspended between 14:00 and 19:00
Glasgow Central - Ardrossan Harbour / Largs suspended between 14:00 and 19:00.

Details of planned alterations to other services are not yet available - please check back closer to the time of travel

Muggins here is supposed to be flying from Inverness to Sumburgh on Tuesday...

 

[najaB]

Muggins here is supposed to be flying from Inverness to Sumburgh on Tuesday...

Hope that's in the afternoon - forecast is for 60mph gusts in the morning.

 

[cf111]

Hope that's in the afternoon - forecast is for 60mph gusts in the morning.

1720 flight, not particularly looking forward to it! Last time I had to go up to Shetland I took the ferry, it took us roughly 20 hours from Lerwick to Aberdeen and at points I was fairly sure I was going to meet my maker so I swore never again.

On a more on-topic note, I'm in Elgin on the Monday so hopefully the Inverness-Aberdeen line isn't affected.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The ferrys fine, or rather would be if the ships were good seeboats, which IMO they are not!

 

[Bodiddly]

1720 flight, not particularly looking forward to it! Last time I had to go up to Shetland I took the ferry, it took us roughly 20 hours from Lerwick to Aberdeen and at points I was fairly sure I was going to meet my maker so I swore never again.....

Oh yes, I've experienced the MV Hrossey on a particularly nasty storm from Lerwick to Aberdeen. Never again! I was thrown out my bunk twice with the roll of the ship.
My worst experience ever was an Oban to Coll crossing on Calmac's MV Clansman. The crossing was so terrifying, the staff on board were bricking it. That doesn't inspire much confidence in ferry travel. It just proves I am a landlubber!

 

[380101]

The ferrys fine, or rather would be if the ships were good seeboats, which IMO they are not!

For ships that were supposedly ordered and designed for the North Sea crossing they are terrible. The old P&O Scottish Ferries ships St Clair and St Sunniva were miles better - and they were ex cross channel ferries that were never designed for the North end of the North Sea. I had many a good sailing on the St Clair in the 90's. The Captain lived 4 houses up from us in Lerwick, so we always got a visit to the bridge when we were kids.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I never got to try them but your only about the 200th person to say this. The current ships are junk and should be replaced. Maybe a job for Ferguson?

 

[cf111]

For ships that were supposedly ordered and designed for the North Sea crossing they are terrible. The old P&O Scottish Ferries ships St Clair and St Sunniva were miles better - and they were ex cross channel ferries that were never designed for the North end of the North Sea. I had many a good sailing on the St Clair in the 90's. The Captain lived 4 houses up from us in Lerwick, so we always got a visit to the bridge when we were kids.

I was on the last St Sunniva on a southbound sailing many years ago, it was an awful night and it got worse as it went on, I very nearly decided against boarding. We couldn't have been far past Sumburgh Head when she took an almighty lurch up and to starboard and an eternity passed before the boat hit the sea again - in the Master's own words the next morning "I thought I'd lost her." We turned back to Shetland. I would always defer to the Master's decision as it's his ship, but we should never have left Lerwick that night.

The Hrossey and Hjaltland suffer without the flared bows of their predecessors, they also tend to catch the wind by nature of their design, but the safety and survival kit on them if something were to go horribly wrong is vastly superior. I think the attitude has changed somewhat too, P&O would go when sometimes they really shouldn't have, Northlink are more cautious.

The Hamnavoe on the Pentland Firth route on the other hand is a vast improvement on the St Ola, she was an old bucket!

 

[jj1314]

Oh yes, I've experienced the MV Hrossey on a particularly nasty storm from Lerwick to Aberdeen. Never again! I was thrown out my bunk twice with the roll of the ship.
My worst experience ever was an Oban to Coll crossing on Calmac's MV Clansman. The crossing was so terrifying, the staff on board were bricking it. That doesn't inspire much confidence in ferry travel. It just proves I am a landlubber!

I've had a pretty torrid crossing aboard the MV Clansman about 3 or 4 years ago.

I'd say nothing quite matches the Scillonian III for a choppy steam, though. If you're in Penzance one windy day, give it a try!

 

[Phil.]

How and where did this naming of storms nonsense start? We've experienced winter weather from time immemorial without having to resort to naming.

 

[najaB]

How and where did this naming of storms nonsense start? We've experienced winter weather from time immemorial without having to resort to naming.

*sigh* To save time going over the whole thing yet again... It started this year, it's an experiment, the idea is that by giving them names it makes it easier for the general public to understand what's happening and keep track, they've done it for decades with tropical cyclones (e.g. hurricanes) and it works very well, no it's not another way that we're 'copying the Americans' and yes the names were chosen by the public.

I think that covers it.

 

[WillPS]

*deleted as wrong, see above*

 

[najaB]

It's not a new thing...

For the Met Office / Met Eireann it is a new thing.

 

[Carntyne]

How and where did this naming of storms nonsense start? We've experienced winter weather from time immemorial without having to resort to naming.

It's to help get the public more interested in what's being communicated. And it's working really well

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/in-depth/name-our-storms

This autumn and winter, the Met Office and Met Eireann, the Irish Met Service are running a pilot project to name wind storms that are expected to affect the UK and Ireland.

Over the past few winters the naming of wind storms that affected Ireland and the United Kingdom (such as the 'St Jude's day storm') has shown the benefits of establishing a protocol for the naming of mid-latitude storms. As storms which move in from the Atlantic often have their biggest impacts across Ireland, the Met Office is working in partnership with Met Éireann on this project.

The naming of storms using a single authoritative system should aid the communication of approaching severe weather through media partners and other government agencies. In this way the public will be better placed to keep themselves, their property and businesses safe.

We received thousands of responses by email, through the Met Office Facebook pages and @metoffice on Twitter and used these to compile a list of storm names for autumn and winter 2015/16. The names will be used by both the Met Office and Met Éireann.

 

[Darandio]

*sigh* To save time going over the whole thing yet again...

And just to clarify further, saying as it came up in other threads...

Storm Jonas wasn't a named storm, either by Met Office, Met Eireann or the NHC. The Weather Channel did it, just to confuse things.

 

[snowball]

*sigh* To save time going over the whole thing yet again... It started this year, it's an experiment,

To be pedantic, it didn't start this calendar year - Abigail was in November.

Anyway, I think the experiment should be stopped, as storms have been much worse since it started.

 

[dubscottie]

Henry appears to be tracking south so there may be disruption further south than forecast.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Anyway, I think the experiment should be stopped, as storms have been much worse since it started.

Given how many storms we are getting, it might make more sense to number them instead!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

*sigh* To save time going over the whole thing yet again... It started this year, it's an experiment, the idea is that by giving them names it makes it easier for the general public to understand what's happening and keep track, they've done it for decades with tropical cyclones (e.g. hurricanes) and it works very well, no it's not another way that we're 'copying the Americans' and yes the names were chosen by the public.

I think that covers it.

Who made the final decision to put this so-called experiment into force and I am in despair at what you say concerning the fact that "the naming makes it easier for the general public to understand"

Patronisation par excellence....:roll:

 

[al78]

Who made the final decision to put this so-called experiment into force and I am in despair at what you say concerning the fact that "the naming makes it easier for the general public to understand"

Patronisation par excellence....:roll:

Maybe just give it a chance and wait to see the final verdict after the experiment has finished.

If no-one tried anything new just because we've done without it in the past, then we'd never innovate or improve and would just stagnate. As has been mentioned, tropical storms have been named for decades and European windstorms have been named in Germany since at least the early 1990's.

 

[DaiGog]

The naming of storms raises awareness. If it is given a name then it a significant storm and the theory is that more people will take notice of it, and take action if necessary.

 

[yorksrob]

I've had a pretty torrid crossing aboard the MV Clansman about 3 or 4 years ago.

I'd say nothing quite matches the Scillonian III for a choppy steam, though. If you're in Penzance one windy day, give it a try!

Oh, I already have. The fry-up on board was perhaps a little over optimistic!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Maybe just give it a chance and wait to see the final verdict after the experiment has finished.

If no-one tried anything new just because we've done without it in the past, then we'd never innovate or improve and would just stagnate. As has been mentioned, tropical storms have been named for decades and European windstorms have been named in Germany since at least the early 1990's.

How will the "final verdict" be announced...and by whom? This naming of storms has the feel of something dreamt up that might appear upon one of those weekend evening television programmes that cater for those with a lack of discernment and quite willing to sit back to watch the dross.

I used to use the word "innovation" in postings but since someone on this website decided to use it describe the aspirations behind the Adrian Shooter inspired rail product, I do feel that particular word has been somewhat devalued in descriptive usage.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Winds picking up in Edinburgh. Been up since 6 and gone from a breez to a good blow.

 

[najaB]

This naming of storms has the feel of something dreamt up that might appear upon one of those weekend evening television programmes that cater for those with a lack of discernment and quite willing to sit back to watch the dross.

As someone who lived in a hurricane prone region for 20 years, I assure you that naming storms really works. Especially when, as is the case here, there are two storms in close succession. If they were just referred to as 'low at 13 degrees west" it would be very easy to get them confused.

 

[gavin]

Speed restrictions are in place between Darlington and Berwick-upon-Tweed.which may cause delays of up to 20 minutes

Bulk of the disruption for now is in Scotland


Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh suspended after 14:00. Due to the forecast poor weather replacement road transport will not run. Also, the 08:55 Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh and the 12:08 Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness services will run between Inverness and Garve only.


Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Fort William / Mallaig suspended from 12:00 between these stations. Due to the forecast poor weather replacement road transport will not run.


Glasgow Central - Ardrossan Harbour / Largs. Services suspended after 14:00 between Kilwinning and Ardrossan Harbour / Largs. Buses will run between Kilwinning and Ardrossan Harbour / Largs, weather permitting.


Edinburgh - Helensburgh Central. Services suspended after 15:00 between Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central. Buses will run between Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central, weather permitting.

Strongest winds are expected tonight in Scotland where the amber warning is in place from 15:00 to 09:00


@Virgin_TrainsEC

Due to a train breaking down between Northallerton and Darlington. All lines are blocked.

‏@Virgin_TrainsEC

A broken down train between Northallerton & Darlington is causing delays up to 2 hours for trains between York and Darlington

 

[matchmaker]

I was on the last St Sunniva on a southbound sailing many years ago, it was an awful night and it got worse as it went on, I very nearly decided against boarding. We couldn't have been far past Sumburgh Head when she took an almighty lurch up and to starboard and an eternity passed before the boat hit the sea again - in the Master's own words the next morning "I thought I'd lost her." We turned back to Shetland. I would always defer to the Master's decision as it's his ship, but we should never have left Lerwick that night.

The Hrossey and Hjaltland suffer without the flared bows of their predecessors, they also tend to catch the wind by nature of their design, but the safety and survival kit on them if something were to go horribly wrong is vastly superior. I think the attitude has changed somewhat too, P&O would go when sometimes they really shouldn't have, Northlink are more cautious.

The Hamnavoe on the Pentland Firth route on the other hand is a vast improvement on the St Ola, she was an old bucket!

I had the "pleasure" of a trip on the St Magnus between Lerwick and Aberdeen one January when the St Clair was in for its annual dry docking.

To say it was a lively night doesn't adequately describe it... :cry::cry:

 

[LateThanNever]

Oh, I already have. The fry-up on board was perhaps a little over optimistic!

No keel on the Scillonian ships on account of the harbour at St Mary's being so shallow - even a moderate swell begins to feel like a bit of a storm... I've always been told that is also why they do not take passengers in the winter. But if the weather's good the Scillies really are Britain's South Sea Islands!