'Danger to life' wind warning issued in Suffolk ahead of Storm Eunice
Strong winds with gusts of up to 80mph will batter Suffolk on Friday - Credit: Andy Abbott
Friday's weather warning for wind in Suffolk has been upgraded from yellow to amber ahead of Storm Eunice's arrival.
This means Storm Eunice is likely to cause "significant disruption" due to extremely strong winds, according to the Met Office.
It warned there is a chance the high winds, which could reach speeds in excess of 70mph, will cause flying debris and falling branches that could result in a danger to life.
The warning is in place between 3am and 9pm on Friday.
There is no threshold wind speeds have to reach before an amber warning is issued - the decision is made depending on the risk of severe weather impacts.
People brave the wind along Felixstowe's beachfront ahead of Storm Dudley on Wednesday - Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown
Zoe Johnson, a meteorologist at East Anglian forecaster Weatherquest, said: "There is some quite rapidly developing pressure up north, which means the winds will be quite strong by the time they get down here.
"With Storm Dudley we can expect winds of 50 to 60mph, but on Friday they could be between 60 and 70mph - perhaps even up to 80mph.
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"I imagine there will be some quite damaging winds. It's going to be exceptionally windy on Friday."
She added wind speeds in East Anglia could reach the 81mph speed recorded in Weybourne, in north Norfolk, on February 16, 2020 amid Storm Dennis.
District councils across Suffolk have said they are monitoring the situation but are yet to announce any changes to services.
Storm Eunice is set to arrive in Suffolk on Friday - Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown
Suffolk County Council previously revealed a multi-agency meeting between the authority and key partners - including UK Power Networks and Suffolk Highways - took place on Tuesday ahead of the strong winds.
Pakefield Coastwatch is among the organisations preparing for the dangerous weather conditions.
Jeff Man, the station manager, said he is expecting a "hammering" along the coast.
He said: "We have had worst in the past but it is not going to be good. Hopefully people will stay away form the beaches.
"I expect there will be fairly high tides driven by the wind and more loss of cliff - which is an ongoing problem in Pakefield."
