And in tonight’s news Storm Zelda has arrived. Red warnings remain in place for the whole of the British Isles. Experts say it is unprecedented to have had twenty six named storms in the first month of the year. Travel plans have already been thrown into chaos. All flights are being diverted to Reykjavik and many train journeys have been cancelled after landslides on several mainlines. The M1, M3, M6 and other motorways have experienced flooding and the RAC is advising drivers not to travel, even if it is absolutely necessary.
The RNLI is warning people to stay away from coastal areas. Mandy Mariner is speaking to us from Cornwall.
‘We are a volunteer organisation and no crew will be volunteering to go out tonight in this weather. People don’t realise that you can be sucked out to sea in seconds by wind and waves, so please do not go sightseeing, Instagram and Facebook are not worth risking your life for.’
His Majesty’s Coastguard has reinforced this warning, especially as all their helicopters are now grounded. In an emergency call 999 Coastguard, better still, avoid emergencies.
And in a dramatic move Deliveroo have suspended all deliveries.
For more details on tonight’s weather we go over to Gail Macleod who is on the end of the pier at Easton-super-Mare.
‘Wind speeds of up to 150 miles an hour have been recorded here this a…ft..er…noon an~~ emr~~~gen~~ ser~~~ ha~~ wa~~~
We seem to have lost Gail for a moment and we apologise for the sound quality of that report. So let’s go back to Sonny Dai in the studio and take a closer look at the weather map.
Welcome to Point of View and we start with your views on coverage of Storm Zelda. Delia Baxter sent us this email
‘How reckless of the BBC to send reporters out in Storm Zelda. Gail Macleod was out in the elements and not even wearing a hat, what sort of example is that?’
We managed to contact Gail, at present sheltering on an oil rig in the North Sea. She sent us this message.
‘I was wearing a nice warm hat, but unfortunately it blew away, along with my umbrella.’
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 
Yikes! I’m glad this is a story.
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Yes Liz, fictional weather is the best kind.
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Good to see Gail survived!
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Hello Audrey, yes luckily weather reporters are a tough breed.
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And that one has a suitable name (which I noticed only after I pressed Send on my comment). 🙂
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LOL. It sounds just like the weather reports in the US. I can’t tell you how my newscasters try to report a tornado outside with huge pieces of debris blowing down the street. Or as they stagger through raging floodwaters. Thanks for the story, Janet.
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Yes ours do too, all the time! My favourite was when a windswept reporter stood on the sea front and said ‘No locals are out tonight’ at which point a group of youths danced behind her waving at the camera and cheering or jeering, luckily couldn’t hear what they were saying!
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Ha ha ha ha. So funny until it’s not, right?
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I’m always amazed at those reporters who are standing out in the middle of a hurricane, offering their play-by-play reports. Just once I’d like to see one of them say, “What am I doing? This in insane!”
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Yes Pete and what about the film crew, I would like to see them scurry for shelter!
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I loved the weather-appropriate names for the reporters! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. I see the north is being hit by Storm Ingunn at this very moment.
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Thank goodness for Sonny Dai 😂
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Yes Colin, what would we do without Sonny Dais.
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HI Janet, I hope this continues to be a fictional situation. The weather is adverse and unprecedented.
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Hello Robbie, it certainly is everywhere.
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