Storm Eunice is expected to hit Greater Manchester with 60-70mph winds on Friday (18 February) from about 10am until 4pm and forecasters are warning that winds may disrupt transport and cause damage to property.

Agencies from across Greater Manchester have come together as the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum to plan ahead for the possible impact.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry, Chair of the GM Resilience Forum, said: "Storm Eunice will see us affected by winds that are unusually high for an inland area and is likely to cause some problems. Most notably we can expect to see falling trees or debris, damage to roofs or structures under construction and very difficult driving or travelling conditions. There is also the risk of power cuts.

"I'm confident that together we are all  well prepared, have the people and resources in place that we may need and a strong plan to respond to incidents if we need to. We've learnt from previous bad weather events - including storm Dudley from earlier this week - and are well placed to handle any arising problems.

"We're asking people to restrict their movements to essential travel only and if they must travel during the storm to take extra care and check arrangements before they set off.  Further tips on staying safe can be found on www.gmp.police.uk." 

The following advice has been issued: 

General preparation advice

• Stay informed of weather forecasts at metoffice.gov.uk  or UK weather warnings - Met Office
• Only travel if it is essential
• If you are planning to travel by rail, air or sea, check with the rail, ferry or airline company in case there are any delays or cancellations
• If you are planning to travel by tram or bus within Greater Manchester see TfGM for the latest advice. Transport for Greater Manchester (tfgm.com)
• If you are an employer, consider asking your staff to work at home if they can or make sure you keep a close eye on weather conditions which may deteriorate
• Prepare for a potential power cut: get torches, spare batteries, medication, mobile phone, extra blankets in one place

What to do in high winds

Before strong wind

• Secure any loose objects such as ladders, wheely bins, garden furniture or trampolines
• Close and securely fasten all doors and windows
• Park all vehicles in your garage (if you have one) or keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences
• Keep your mobile phone charged

During strong wind

• Stay indoors
• If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings, trees or buildings under construction
• Do not go walking in hills or open countryside - this can put the public and any potential rescuers at risk.
• Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is on-going
• Do not drive unless necessary, if you have to drive be aware of the following:
  • Keep both hands on the wheel
  • Be ready for stronger winds and gusts on exposed stretches of road or when passing high-sided vehicles
  • Be ready for sudden gusts when passing tall buildings in urban areas
  • Keep your speed down – strong gusts won’t blow you as far off course
  • Take care and leave extra room around cyclists and motorcyclists.
  • Keep your distance from other vehicles, especially high-sided vehicles and caravans
  • Avoid towing high-sided trailers like caravans or horseboxes if very windy conditions are forecast
  • Twigs or small branches in the road could mean there’s a tree or large branch in the way around the next bend
  • Partially fallen trees can hang above the sweep of your headlights, making them hard to spot

• If the power goes off call Freephone 105 to report it and get information

After strong winds

• Be careful not to touch any electrical/ telephone cables which may have been blown down or are still hanging
• Do not walk too close to walls, buildings, and trees as they could have been weakened. Avoid areas where there are buildings under construction