Advice please, driving in high wind

[herald_400rl]

Morning all,
I've got to drive back (90 miles) this afternoon and it's forecast winds of 50+ MPH.
Last night was an experience stationary, never mind on the motorway with lorries, etc. passing.
I've downplayed to my wife but inside I'm quite nervous.

Tia.

 

[Dibby]

Morning all,
I've got to drive back (90 miles) this afternoon and it's forecast winds of 50+ MPH.
Last night was an experience stationary, never mind on the motorway with lorries, etc. passing.
I've downplayed to my wife but inside I'm quite nervous.

Tia.

Bit late in the day for this reply but back in the great storm 87 i was travelling back from Leicester on the M1 in a 12 metre pantechnicon when a sudden gust took me over around Newport Pagnell. Definitely not a nice experience. Police who took us to service area for safety told us, in that area 12 had blown over in an hour.
My advice to anyone after that, would be, sit tight until it passes.

 

[dazandandrea]

Drove home at a steady 60 tonight, no dramas. Bit blustery in the van but nothing too bad.

 

[TheBig1]

The worst of it is yet to come with this storm according to the forecast. Looking at a very windy night and early tomorrow

 

[CWH]

The worst of it is yet to come with this storm according to the forecast. Looking at a very windy night and early tomorrow

Yeah, we're due 100 mph around midnight. Average now is 90, gusting over 100.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Norfolk Nige]

My most scary trip in high winds was during my time doing recovery work. I had to front lift a double glazing van with a tall glass rack on one side across the Humber bridge on a breezy day.
The bridge wasn’t closed to high sided vehicles but I had a fight to keep in a straight line. Coming back they had put a high wind warning on the M62 at Google but the Humber bridge still had no warnings.

Oops. Big thumb hit reply by mistake

 

[Guigsy]

Cross winds are a lot worse than going head-on. Tail winds normally aren't an issue. As storms pass, the direction can shift quite a bit, so changing your departure time can make life easier.

Drive slower. I tend to find a larger sided vehicle to follow at a distance. When you see them shimmy across (often because a gap in the trees or similar) you can be prepared with a few seconds warning.

Keep your eyes focused a long way ahead. You'll spot the movement in the van much quicker. Small corrections if done early enough can avoid the need for bigger sways. Stay relaxed. Don't over react. Be prepared for the gust you're leaning into to suddenly stop. Watch for Sprinter vans shooting past almost on two wheels... the wake when they create can be unsettling.

 

[L' Hobo]

Morning all,
I've got to drive back (90 miles) this afternoon and it's forecast winds of 50+ MPH.
Last night was an experience stationary, never mind on the motorway with lorries, etc. passing.
I've downplayed to my wife but inside I'm quite nervous.

Tia.

1)Don't unless you really have to!
2) IF you have to, avoid Motorway bridges!

A few years ago, after visiting Spurn Head in my VW California, before the road got washed away, I had to get back to work and foolishly decided to return via the Humber Bridge.
Even with a small campervan, I was on 2 wheels most of the time allowing the van to be blown over all lanes instead of over on its side.
Halfway across, I sort shelter from an overtaking Artic + Box trailer until a gust of wind caught it and it swerved into my n/S lane.
I had to brake sharply to stop being crushed and push off the side of the bridge. Never again!

 

[Smokaijo]

Morning all,
I've got to drive back (90 miles) this afternoon and it's forecast winds of 50+ MPH.
Last night was an experience stationary, never mind on the motorway with lorries, etc. passing.
I've downplayed to my wife but inside I'm quite nervous.

Tia.

We came back in a gale force during the previous storm my partner just took it easy - it was helped by torrential rain and very big HGV who zonked past us.
Yes going over the Dartford bridge was interesting but if you go carefully it’s doable-although I can’t say I would want to do it again

 

[Pausim]

Gales are bad but Storms are much worse and need treating with great respect.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BillyKontiki]

Hi Tia hope you made it home safely.
Billy.

 

[Rumour and Innuendo]

We drove home in the big storm of February 2022. It was a but breezy, similar to what was posted about 50mph winds. First time I had driven our Lizzy, but although we did get pushed about a smidgeon, it was as bad as I expected.

 

[nicholsong]

It is not just the wind and gust speeds one needs to consider: it is what the cross-wind component is - zero if the wind is head or tail on, varying to 90% if at right-angles.

The gusts are the real difficulty because one is already compensating for the steady wind.

Best way to get as near to real-time actual weather is to google the METAR for any airports close to your route. They are issued every half hour, or more frequently if there is a rapid change.

 

[Pablo19]

Firstly safe travels. My hubby did the same, downplay the wind I mean on a recent trip back to Wales from Cambridge. Winds were 39mph and gusts up to 47. Overnight I was already worried but hubby said it will be fine. Shortly after we left for the A14 Madingley road a main city access road was closed because of an overturned vehicle. The A14 and M6 were completely horrendous experiences. Lorries pulled over into lay-bys along the route. Hubby explained it was because they had reached their maximum legal drive hours… big fibber! Hubby said he will never do this again. He was worried throughout. Next time I’m digging my heals in and staying put! It’s made me very cautious as we are new to owning driving a MH.

To be fair, a loaded motorhome is a lot safer on the road than a truck with an empty curtainsider which just acts as a sail. Even worse though if drivers pull the curtains back to allow the air to flow through because it can then take the roof off!

 

[mondo]

As others have said..A roads and a slower speed....I have been blown over once in a truck..not an experience I am keen to repeat..for obvious reasons..if it takes all day so be it..

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

I can only repeat the advice my doctor gave when hoping for some sea sickness tablets when I told her that I was going on a cruise and that I suffer awfully when on the high seas - "Don't go then" - and that was it, I was shown the door.

 

[Clive Mott]

We drove back from France through winds and gusts that meant my hands were at maximum rotate to keep our 6.5 tonne tardis on the road. It was the rush to the ferry. Hairy but we made it. Once home found that both fridge vents had gone AWL. I you dont feel safe then sit tight, but not under a tree or tall buildings.

 

[wiff2110]

Morning all,
I've got to drive back (90 miles) this afternoon and it's forecast winds of 50+ MPH.
Last night was an experience stationary, never mind on the motorway with lorries, etc. passing.
I've downplayed to my wife but inside I'm quite nervous.

Tia.

Quite nervous says it all, nervous drivers should not be on the our roads, seriously I hope you had sense to wait it out.

 

[Pausim]

Quite nervous says it all, nervous drivers should not be on the our roads, seriously I hope you had sense to wait it out.

Bit harsh. Yes if you can avoid driving in bad conditions it is best not to but far better to express your concerns and seek advice than blunder on. I worry more about over confident people who charge on regardless.