Sarcastic social media posts mock Storm Eunice but forecasters warn 'don't be fooled'

Social media users made light of the approach of Storm Eunice today – but forecasters warned Brits ‘don’t be fooled’ as they predicted the most powerful tempest to hit the UK in decades. 

Rare ‘red warnings’ for 100mph winds run from 7am until 12pm in the South West and 10am until 3pm in the South East with forecasters concerned over ‘flying debris resulting in danger to life’ as well as ‘roofs blown off and power lines brought down’. 

But with conditions still calm this morning, Twitter users mocked ‘this morning’s devastation’ – including a knocked over plant pot and a plastic bag being blown down a road. Another wag shared an image of a pigeon with a leaf on its face with the caption, ‘Stay safe everyone’. 

In response to the calm conditions, BBC weather presenter Darren Bett said: ‘Don’t be fooled, there is some much windier weather to come for most of us.’  

With conditions still calm this morning, Twitter users shared images of ‘this morning’s devastation’ – including a knocked-over plant pot and wheelie bin 

Hundreds of schools were closed, all trains in Wales were suspended and rail passengers across England were told not to travel amid mass cancellations as the Army was on standby for what could be the worst storm in 32 years.

British Airways cancelled more than 80 flights at London Heathrow and City airports, motorists were warned only to make essential journeys and major attractions closed including the London Eye, Kew Gardens and Legoland.

The Met Office issued the first red warning for the South West at 11am yesterday, 20 hours in advance, before issuing the second for the South East at 4am today – just six hours before the ‘extremely strong winds’ begin.

The South West warning covers coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as well as South Wales due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge – while the second is over most of South East England.

Top wind speeds could hit 100mph with the strongest gusts expected in exposed coastal areas, while a lesser amber warning for gusts up to 80mph covers the whole of England until 9pm tonight having started at 5am.

The Met Office added that the phenomenon known as a sting jet – a small area of highly intense wind inside a storm – could form later today. It would be the first instance of such an event since the Great Storm of 1987. 

Forecasters today urged Britons to work from home in the worst affected areas – with the centre of the storm expected to be up the Bristol Channel and around the narrowing of the River Severn in Gloucestershire.

The top wind gusts recorded as of 8am were 77mph on the Isles of Scilly, 75mph at Capel Curig in North Wales and 71mph at Needles on the Isle of Wight.

People should ‘take precautions’ during Storm Eunice, the Government has said, adding that the Army is on ‘high readiness standby’ to help.

Home Office minister Damian Hinds told Sky News: ‘We are strongly encouraging people to take precautions and make sure they stay safe.’

Waves crash against the harbour wall at Porthcawl in South Wales this morning as Storm Eunice sweeps into Britain

Waves hit Porthleven on the Cornish coast this morning as Storm Eunice makes landfall in the South West