![Waves crash on Brighton Palace Pier on Sunday morning as](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000363485583_17058365829930_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqcpoWzwBIzlnewd68KzIvqPctAPMNiKvlkcZf6zNr5hc.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Met Office warns not to sleep near windows as Storm Isha approaches
Amber alert issued with possible power cuts and loss of mobile phone signal, while roads and bridges are likely to be shut
![Waves crash on Brighton Palace Pier on Sunday morning as](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000363485583_17058365829930_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqcpoWzwBIzlnewd68KzIvqPctAPMNiKvlkcZf6zNr5hc.jpeg?imwidth=680)
The Met Office has warned the public not to sleep near windows on Sunday as Storm Isha is set to bring dangerous winds to the UK.
Coastal areas are expected to be particularly badly affected by strong winds overnight and into Monday morning.
Disruptions to power supplies and transport routes are expected with winds likely to reach up to 80mph across the UK.
The cold Arctic air that has been dominating the UK in recent days is subsiding and will be replaced in the coming days by weather from the Atlantic. This will bring a return to milder conditions but also usher in wet and windy weather across the UK on Sunday.
![The Met Office map shows an Amber weather warning in place across most of the UK](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000363526973_17058536879210_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Responding to a worried member of the public, the Met Office tweeted: “The safest place, or where you can minimise the risks of injury in your home, would be anywhere away from glass, such as windows and also rooms where there is no chimney stack above.”
They also warned families that items such as bins, plant pots, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds should be secured, while doors and windows should be fastened.
The Met Office advised that those with garage access should park their cars there, or otherwise keep their car away from buildings, trees, walls and fences.
They said that if chimney stacks are tall or in poor condition then beds should be removed from the area directly below them, and that people should avoid sleeping near windows.
The Met Office has also advised people to stay inside where possible. If they do need to leave their house, they should steer clear of trees and walls during the strong winds and stick to main roads while driving so that motorists are “less likely” to hit fallen debris and branches.
It is also recommended that drivers grip their steering wheel with both hands and keep more room around the vehicle than usual while travelling.
A Met Office spokesperson told the Telegraph the 2023-24 weather season was shaping up to be “one of the stormiest seasons on record”.
![Westminster Bridge](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000363486905_17058367693460_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=350)
![The public should brace for disruption to power supplies and transport, blown down trees and dislodged tiles from roofs](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000363503646_17058477020620_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqMG9jYnib85FJIfCc-bQYcW-cE--e-VbHt763Ut2oDew.jpeg?imwidth=350)
“It has so far been very unusual,” the spokesman said. Storm Isha will present “some danger to life” particularly from dangerous winds in coastal areas and the risk of fallen trees inland.
The public should brace themselves for disruption to power supplies and transport, blown down trees and for tiles to be dislodged from roofs.
“The essential message is that it is best not to travel if you don’t need to; avoid exposed routes such as higher areas or coastal roads, stick to main routes such as motorways and be careful when passing high-sided vehicles.”
Dan Suri, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The areas of particular concern are reflected by a large Amber severe weather warning which covers Northern Ireland, central and southern Scotland, Wales, much of northern England as well as south-western parts of England.
The stormiest season was in 2015-16 with 11 storms. Storm Imogen, the ninth named of that season, occurred on Feb 7, with only another two storms arriving in the following six months, finishing with Storm Katie.
Storm Isha is the ninth so far for the 2023-2024 season, raising the possibility that the record may be broken.