Households across southern parts of the UK are being urged to fill their freezers before Friday to prepare for possible power cuts as Storm Austen sweeps across the country. The storm is forecast to bring strong winds of between 50 and 60mph to southern areas, while gusts of up to 70mph are possible along exposed coasts.
Yellow Weather Warning in Force
A yellow weather warning for wind is in force from midnight until midday on Friday, October 23, and covers most of South West England, London and South East England, as well as southern Wales. The Met Office says households within the warning areas should brace for travel disruption, power cuts and mobile phone outages, and a chance of injuries from flying debris in places.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what’s clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named.”
“Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the forecast in the coming days.”
Freezer Advice for Power Cuts
Met Office advice recommends gathering essential items like torches, batteries and a mobile phone power pack in advance of the storm's arrival on Friday so you are well prepared in the event that the power goes off. But experts also recommend another important step to prepare for power outages – and that’s keeping your freezer full.
A full freezer is much more energy efficient than an empty one and it is better equipped to stay cold during a power cut. This is because the frozen food essentially creates a solid thermal mass that holds the cold temperature for much longer. When there is less empty space in your freezer it is harder for warm air to circulate, so the temperature inside rises more slowly and the food items essentially insulate each other, helping to retain a cold temperature for longer.
During a power cut, a freezer that is full can keep food frozen for up to 48 hours, while one that is only half-full will only be able to maintain its temperature for around 24 hours.
Energy Efficiency Tips
Anthony Mellor at Swinton Home Insurance recommends that households focus on their freezers this winter as a way to prepare for possible power cuts, and to help save money on energy bills in the process.
He said: “Ice build-up makes your freezer’s motor work harder and longer to maintain its temperature, consuming more electricity. In contrast, a defrosted freezer runs more efficiently and consumes less energy. To keep your machine running well, defrost when the frost build-up covers a large area and exceeds ¼-inch (0.6cm) thickness.
“Keeping your freezer full is also more energy-efficient than an empty one. A full freezer minimises the amount of warm air that can enter when you open the freezer door, plus the frozen contents help cool any warm air that does get in. This means less energy is required to bring the temperature back down.
“If that wasn’t a big enough incentive, according to the Food Standards Agency, if you were to ever experience a dreaded power cut, a freezer that is half full would hold food safely for 24 hours, but this doubles to 48 hours if completely full.”
Areas Covered by the Warning
The yellow weather warning for wind on Friday covers the following areas of the UK, where possible power cuts could occur:
London & South East England: Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Sussex.
South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Isles of Scilly, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Torbay, Wiltshire.
Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan.
West Midlands: Herefordshire.
