Storm Gareth

Storm Gareth

17 March 2019

14:17

The weather lady gave out a warning 'stormy weather on its way, with extreme gale force winds, resulting in damage to buildings and travel disruption to road and rail. Also heavy rain with falls in excess of twenty centimetres in 24 hours' possibility of snow over highground in North of Scotland and the Pennines

 

We made preparations

Flasks of hot water, torches and candles for the immediate, gas cylinders and stoves should it continue.

 

It came early as darkness was falling; earlier than scheduled as the clouds cut out the setting sun

The winds picked up

Rain on the widows has the ferocity  of hail stones; water running down the road 2 inch deep

Wind blowing over the chimney top drowned out the sound of the TV

With the central heating on full the house was becoming colder

 

"I'm bored, I hate this wind"

"I'll make us another drink"

"Lets take it upstairs, at least we wont hear the wind over the chimney pots"

 

Upstairs it was quieter only the sound of rain on the windows and roof

Turn the radio on; we may as well listen to some music.

 

The wind blew all night

Rain/hail stone rattled the windows

 

Next morning the alarm came on

The news wasn't exactly welcoming

 

Winds in excess of one hundred and thirty miles per hour had been recorded at a lighthouse

Roads closed with fallen trees and debris

Snow  has closed all the high roads

The M6 motorway was passable with care

Five thousand homes had no electricity

It would be returned when it was safe for the engineers to work on it

Several  low lying communities were flooded

 

We checked our roof and fences

All was alright

A few potted trees and shrubs were laid on their sides

Smaller plant pots had been blow together in a sheltered spot

Like they were at some plant pot concert

Daffodils with broken stems were collected and brought into the house

 

Other wise we were unscathed 

Further along the gardens we could see a white scar

The end of a large branch torn from a tree and now laying over the garden shed

 

Wild Rose

March 2019

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This satisfies my deep thirst for weather events. Maybe becuz California typically does not have much weather, I find I'm intrigued by the extremes of it elsewhere. I love the details in your poem, so true-to-life & relatable. I love the way you share what's going on in a "macro" sense, as well as on the "micro" level of this specific relationship. Despite how a storm goes in our own little microcosm, the broader effects are a big part of how we respond to storms & such. You've captured it all with so much detail, we can picture & feel everything (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Margie, If we could I would cut out a slice of weather and sent you a wee taster
We can put up with the rain and snow, we dont get flooded. We do live on a hill where we could find it very difficult to get home 9So we try to not go out when we know its on its way _ get home before it begins & close the doors) and manage the situation
Wind you can do nothing about it > Like Storm Garry or those they get in parts of US you are beat to keep indoors away from flying objects - slates, tiles - roofs.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A vivid and news real like description of that bad boy! Loved it and so glad it never got to Leicester!

[Wild Rose]

We live on the NW coast on the Solway Firth 20 miles across to Dumfries SW Scotland at 360ft Alt On a clear day can see the IOM from home

This one was horrendous

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah a place of mixed blessings. IOM, is that where guys get sent when excomunicated by their women?

[Mrudula Rani]

This is an exquisite account of storm, I loved and experienced the description in detail. When a storm like that seething out doors the best place to be is home, warm and safe. I hope your garden fared well after that tempest.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Mrudula for the concern Yes just some shrubs in tubs were blow over (That happens regularly) and daffys on long stalks were broken (Made a nice display in vases >> Bu further up we cold see one tree broken - the trunk with a glaring white scar
We get lots of strong winds But this was a ferocious one (March Gales)

[Mrudula Rani]

We are getting rains here now, that the likes of it we haven't seen in a decade or so. Do take care and keep safe.