Wind and rain

Information from WSCC Resilience and Emergencies Team: High Winds

The Met Office has issued an Amber Weather Warning for wind on the 26th and 27th December. Very strong south westerly winds are expected for parts of south and southeast England and south Wales on Sunday morning. Inland gusts of 50-60 mph are likely with a few spots likely to see 60-70 mph for a time. Hills and particularly coasts exposed to the south-westerly winds will see a few gusts of 70-80 mph. In addition to the strong winds, a period of heavy, squally rain is expected and may prove an additional hazard. You can expect longer journey times and cancellations; road and bridge closures; tiles blown from roofs; flying debris; power cuts; and mobile phone signal failures.

Cortinarius ainsworthii


Cortinarius ainsworthii is a newly described toadstool which grows on chalky soil. It was discovered in Devil’s Dyke in 2017 by the eponymous mycologist A. Martyn Ainsworth (Kew) and reported earlier this year in Hyde, K.D., Dong, Y., Phookamsak, R. et al. Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity 100, 5–277 (2020). No word as to toxicity.