THE HIGHWAYS Agency is advising road users to be cautious as strong gales and heavy rain is expected in the South West and South East regions later today.

The agency has issued a severe weather alert for gales, warning road users in both regions that strong winds of up to 65mph combined with heavy rain, will make driving conditions difficult along the most southern routes of the South West from 4pm until 11pm.

Road users driving high-sided vehicles, riding motorcycles or towing any kind of trailer are being urged to check traffic and weather conditions before setting out on journeys and to heed any advice such as speed restrictions once they are on the strategic road network.

Met Office forecasters based in the Agency’s National Traffic Operations Centre are predicting southerly winds will increase to 50mph across most of the network late this afternoon, reaching between 60 and 65 mph along the most southern routes in the South West and South East.

The M48 Severn Bridge will be affected with gusts steadily increasing up to 50mph until 9pm while the QEII bridge at Dartford will experience gusts from 9pm until midnight.

The Orwell Bridge on the A14 near Ipswich will have a crosswind with similar gust speeds, also from 9pm until midnight.

The Highways Agency is advising drivers of vulnerable vehicles to avoid the following locations if possible:

South West

  • A30 / A38 Bodmin
  • M5 J20-J23 Clevedon to Bridgwater
  • A35 Long Bredy duals

South East

  • M27 J8-J9 Hedge End to Locks Heath A27 Shoreham Flyover - near to Hove
  • Brighton A2 Jubilee Way close to Dover
  • M2 J2-J3 Medway Viaduct A249 Kings Ferry
  • Sheppy Crossing A282 QE2 Bridge
  • Dartford Bridge