Gale Force Winds Hit The UK

Have a good look at the exterior of your property today and tomorrow – chances are good that you might need to make good use of steel reinforcement mesh and other construction supplies this week as gale force winds have been battering parts of the country and severe weather warnings have been issued.

The south of the UK was hit particularly hard and the north-west has also been seeing some particularly strong winds, which could have a big impact on the state of your roof. When the winds have died down, it would certainly be advisable to head outside to assess the damage and if necessary call in a qualified tradesman to help you deal with any potential issues.

Charles Powell, meteorologist with the Met Office, noted that such strong winds putting in an appearance in the south of England is somewhat unusual for the time of year as conditions typically settle as we approach the summer.

“We’re looking at around 50-60mph gusts in exposed areas. Inland we’ll still see strong winds but probably not quite up to those figures. It is relatively late in the season to see that kind of wind speed,” he remarked.

Roofs are designed to withstand typical wind loads but when it starts to move over materials like shingles or the membrane of the roof, the suction of the wind will lift this up, which means more wind can enter below and push it even further up. As a result, the underside of the roof is exposed and rain can get in. Make sure you check your roof over at least once a year to keep on top of any problems.