A BEACHFRONT car park has been closed as strong winds batter Dorset today.

Boscombe Undercliff Drive car park has been closed and BCP Council has warned the piers  may need to be shut later as gusts of up to 60mph are expected. 

A BCP Council spokesperson said: "The Met Office yellow warning for wind is in place until 9pm. Boscombe Undercliff car park is closed, and it's likely we'll need to close the piers later."

The spokesperson added: “We're expecting to have to clear approx 20,000 tonnes of sand, so bear with us next week as we clear it from the prom.”

A yellow weather warning for strong winds which is in place until 9pm today.

The Met Office warning reads: “Windy weather may lead to some travel disruption and, perhaps, damage to temporary outdoor structures.”

In terms of what to expect the Met Office says: 

  • Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely
  • Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
  • It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves
  • Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely
  • Some damage to outdoor temporary structures possible, with some tree branches down too.

A Met Office spokeperson said: "An unusually deep area of low pressure for the time of year will move slowly eastwards across a central swathe of the UK during Thursday night and Friday.

"In addition to some heavy rain, this low will bring with it a spell of relatively high winds. The windiest conditions will start to affect south Wales and southwest England Thursday late afternoon and evening before spreading across southern England Thursday night and early Friday.

"Inland, gusts up to 45 to 50 mph are expected at times whilst over coasts and hills gusts will reach as much as 55 to 60 mph. These high winds then slowly ease from the west during Friday."

More follows.