As Storm Darragh batters the UK with hurricane force winds of up to 90mph and heavy rain, a lot of people are cancelling plans and staying at home. But for TV reporters, it presents the perfect opportunity to get strong visuals as they update us about the weather forecast for the day.
One BBC Breakfast journalist, Oli Constable, walked right into the storm this morning as he updated viewers about Storm Darragh in one of the worst affected areas – Bangor in Wales. It made for some chaotic looking scenes as he stood on a pier being battered by wind and rain while desperately trying to give his report.
However, many people were not too happy about the decision to send him out in the storm, with many raising concerns about safety. It comes amid a rare life-threatening red weather warning issued by the Met Office across parts of Wales and the south west from 3am until 11am today.
The weather forecaster has warned of “damaging winds”, with gusts of 90mph possible over the coasts and hills of west and south Wales. Forecasters say the strongest winds will begin to ease from late morning.
A number of people took to Twitter this morning to share concerns about Oli giving his report in the stormy weather. One person wrote: “#StormDarragh Oli looked like he bout [sic] to take off presenting in Bangor.”
Someone else said: “@Simoncramp45 @newswatchbbc @BBCNews @BBCBreakfast And that poor bloke just now in Bangor who could barely stand up in it! Threat to life warning, get them inside!”
A third added: “Storm Darragh batters BBC Breakfast reporter who warns ‘not to travel unless absolutely essential’”, with laughing emojis.
Another wrote: “Bloke stood outside in the storm telling everyone not to go outside into the storm.”
During his report, Oli said standing outside in the rain was “like getting sandpapered in the face, it’s that painful”. However, the BBC reassured viewers that he was “positioned in a safe area, in the open and away from water.”