Emergency Alert system used in Wales during Storm Darragh

The Emergency Alert was sent by the UK government on the evening of Friday 6 December 2024, as Storm Darragh approached with a red warning for wind. Around three million people across Wales and south-west England received the message, which warned of dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions¹. The Met Office had issued red, amber and yellow National Severe Weather Warnings, with the red wind warning covering West Wales and both coasts of the Bristol Channel².

The alerts were sent in stages. The first was sent at 6:58pm to Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, City of, Devon, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire⁴. A second went at 7:01pm to Bridgend, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan⁵, and a third at 7:41pm to Cardiff⁶. All three stopped sending at about 11:00am on Saturday 7 December 2024⁶. The Met Office's own account records that several million people received a government emergency alert on their mobile phones on the evening of Friday 6 December giving advice about the storm³.

The red warning for wind ran from 0300 UTC to 1100 UTC on Saturday 7 December 2024³. The Met Office said gusts could reach up to 90 miles per hour along the coasts of west and south Wales and funnelling through the Bristol Channel². In Wales, gusts of 93mph were recorded overnight at Capel Curig and 92mph at Aberdaron⁷; the Met Office's later report gives the highest gust as 96mph at Berry Head, Devon³. Over 2.3 million customers lost power during the storm, and a major incident was declared by Dyfed-Powys Police covering Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, with many fallen trees³. A number of deaths were reported over the weekend³.

Why it matters for households

The alert reached phones on 4G and 5G networks, and the government's message told recipients that strong winds can cause flying debris, falling trees and large waves around coastal areas, all of which can present a danger to life. It advised people to stay indoors if they could and said it was not safe to drive in these conditions⁶. It also warned that the storm may damage infrastructure causing power cuts and disruption to mobile phone coverage, and suggested considering gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items already at home⁴. The Met Office advised people to keep an eye on the latest forecast details and prepare for the bad weather, especially if planning to be out and about on Saturday². Its chief meteorologist said being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury and advised staying indoors as much as possible, checking for loose items outside the home and planning how to secure them⁷. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service advised avoiding travel during the storm, said the red warning area indicated a potential risk to life, and noted that the Electricity Distribution Network Operator is responsible for maintaining physical electricity supplies, contactable on 105⁸. The Met Office's report notes that the most recent red warning for wind before Darragh was for Storm Isha in January 2024³.

What happens next

The government has since announced a second national Emergency Alert test, due at around 3pm on Sunday 7 September, when phones on 4G and 5G will vibrate and emit a loud siren-like sound for up to ten seconds with a message making clear it is a drill¹. The test follows the use of the system in Wales during Storm Darragh¹. The background to the phone warning system is set out in our guide to Emergency Alerts, with advice on what to do when you get an Emergency Alert and on where to get official warnings and news. Our Storm Darragh 2024 page covers the storm's impacts and lessons for households.