South West and Midlands battered as Storm Bram sweeps the region
A number of flood alerts are in force - whilst there's disruption on boat crossings and on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge
Last updated 9th Dec 2025
People in south-west England are being warned of a danger to life from Storm Bram.
The Met Office says heavy rain and winds of up to 90 miles per hour could cause serious disruption through today (9/12) and into Wednesday morning.
There are amber warnings for wind and rain, with the worst of the weather affecting areas like north-west Scotland, Dartmoor in Devon, and South Wales.
Roads, rail and ferry services could all be hit, and flooding is also expected in some places.
Gusts of 70 to 80 mph are expected in some parts of the country for a few hours, and some places may experience gusts of up to 90 mph, the Met Office said.
The forecaster said there is a potential for large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, with flying debris posing a possible "danger to life".
Heavy rain will accompany the strong winds and may exacerbate impacts, it added.
Roads, bridges and railway lines in the region may close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights, the forecaster added.
Great Western Railway have confirmed that people with train tickets booked for Tuesday will be able to use these the following day.
Whilst the forecasted severe weather has forced the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway to close.
Some homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and potentially damaged, while some communities could be cut off because of flooded roads, the Met Office said.
Fast flowing floodwater is likely in the affected areas, also causing challenging conditions and a danger to life, it warned.
Drivers will face difficult driving conditions as spray and flooding may also lead to road closures.
The forecaster warned of travel disruption on Tuesday morning and said to prepare to avoid travelling by road.
They further advised people in the areas covered by the amber rain warning to prepare a flood kit, containing insurance and any other important documents, a torch and spare batteries, a first aid kit and prescription medicines.
The kit should also contain supplies for looking after family members or pets, as well as warm and waterproof clothes, blankets, and food and water, the Met Office said.
The amber rain warning also includes parts of South Wales and the south-west of England, mostly covering Dartmoor in Devon.
The forecasters said around 100mm of rain could fall in some locations with 50 to 75mm of rain expected across much of the warning area.
The warning began at 12am and ends at 10am on Tuesday.
More than 30 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - are in place for England, along with more than 170 alerts signalling flooding is possible.
Because of the bad weather, drivers are being asked to leave extra time for their journeys on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
Bosses at National Highways said: "Emergency lane closures mean only one lane will be open in each direction, so journeys will take longer than normal.
“Emergency inspections of the lamp posts on the bridge have identified an immediate safety risk. We will be carrying out work as soon as possible, but we expect closures to be in place, possibly until after Tuesday evening's rush hour. We thank drivers for their patience whilst we carry out this vital safety work.
“Road users are also advised that we will be monitoring potential high winds that affect the M48. Should wind speeds reach the threshold for safety of above 46mph, the carriageway will be closed. This is standard procedure and unrelated to the ongoing issues on the M4 Prince of Wales bridge.”
Further south, and Devon County Council is bracing itself for heavy rain from Storm Bram overnight and into tomorrow morning, with road users being urged to take extra care.
Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Although strong wind gusts of around 50mph are expected through until tomorrow, the biggest concern is more rainfall on top of what we’ve already had over the last couple of days.
"There’s likely to be a lot of surface water because of the sheer volume of rain that’s forecast. I can’t emphasise strongly enough but please take extra care.
"Allow extra time for your journey, drive according to the conditions, and please don’t attempt to drive through floodwater. You could put yourself and others at risk.”
Devon County Council's highways teams have drafted in extra resources to respond to any issues on local roads, with gully pumps, jetters and tree surgeons on standby.
Devon County Council is reminding people of the following advice:
- Be alert to fallen trees and branches, particularly on minor roads where they may not have been reported
- Allow additional time for your journey, never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Find an alternative route
- Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the vehicle in front and leave plenty of room if you’re overtaking
- Drive with care and according to the conditions
- Be aware of weather warnings and keep up to date via @Devonalert
- Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions