Northern Power Grid are warning households about 'high likelihood' of disruption of power during Storm Eunice.

The Met Office is forecasting Storm Eunice to arrive in our region tomorrow, Saturday, 19 February, with winds speeds expected to 60 to 70mph with potential for gusts of up to 80mph in exposed areas.

Although Northern Power Grid was able to reconnect 20,000 homes during Storm Dudley, they are admit they will not know the 'extent of damage' until the morning after of Storm Eunice.

A spokesperson for the company said: "With those high winds expected, combined with snowfall in some parts of the region, it will have the potential to cause some damage, so there is a relatively high likelihood that there will be some disruption to power supplies. Currently our best view is that we will start to see an impact in the late morning.

"As and when the storm arrives, we will start to factor that into the estimates we give for power restoration. We will give initial estimated restoration times that reflect the fact that we won’t know the extent of the damage to the network.

"Even so, during that time, we will expect to get a lot of supplies restored by reconfiguring the network, but we will not know at that stage which customers are affected by damage that needs physical repair to restore supplies. In those early stages, we will be working hard to assess the damage so that we can provide more precise updates as the situation unfolds."

Anyone who spots any damaged overhead power lines or other equipment must not approach the area and should report it immediately by calling 105.

To report a power cut and find the latest information relating to a power cut please visit our website or take a look at our 24/7 social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter (@NorthPowergrid) which will provide updates for customers.

We are also reminding anyone who spots any damaged overhead power lines or other equipment that they must not approach the area and should report it immediately by calling 105. Our 24/7 contact centre will be available with advisors ready to provide information, advice and support to customers who call 105, the free, three-digit power cut number.

Customers with a disability, medical condition or very young families, who may need greater assistance during a power cut and have signed up to the company's Priority Services Membership, will be kept updated as a priority. For any customers on our priority service register who require further support, you can contact our dedicated priority service line 0800 169 2996. Our customer support vehicles are also prepped and ready to go out into local communities, where possible, to offer help on the ground to those who need it most.

Power cut tips and advice include:

  • bookmarking Northern Powergrid's online power cut map and reporting service on their mobile devices – www.northernpowergrid.com/power-cuts
  • having a charged mobile phone with important numbers, including 105, easily accessible
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    • turning off electrical appliances at the socket (this is particularly important for heating or cooking appliances as your power could be restored at any time and potentially cause a safety hazard)
    • keeping one light switched on so you know when power is restored
    • keeping a battery or wind-up torch handy – as they're much safer than candles
    • checking on your elderly or sick neighbours and relatives and consider joining Northern Powergrid's free Priority Services Membership if you might be more vulnerable in a power cut
    • ensuring you have warm clothing and blankets handy and some food and drink in your home that does not require electricity to heat or prepare it, and
    • only call 999 in an emergency.