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Need Help or Advice?
Call the Insight team
01273 475 500
The relatively calm weather we’ve been enjoying over recent weeks is about to change. In this latest post we look at the need to secure your wheelie bins in windy weather.
Although we’ve experienced calm but cold weather conditions over the past week this is anticipated to change as a powerful jet stream is set to bring gales to parts of the UK later this week. The UK Met Office has issued a yellow warning for strong, gale force winds on Friday and Saturday covering Northern Ireland along with northern and western Scotland.
Yellow Met Office weather warnings mean that people need to plan ahead, think about travel plans and be prepared for possible delays. Power cuts may occur and other services, such as mobile phone connectivity, can also be adversely affected. Flying debris, blown by the strong winds, presents a risk of injury and even a danger to life. Property damage can occur as strong winds damage rooftops and blow down fencing.
People are encouraged to stay away from coastal areas where large waves are predicted, and to take extra care if walking near cliffs. Coastal wind speeds are expected to reach 70-80 mph while inland speeds of around 50-60 mph are anticipated.
Not surprisingly, average wind speeds in the UK are highest during the winter months, in the first and final quarters of the year. The UK’s highest wind speed since 2010 occurred in the first quarter of 2020 when it reached 11.5 knots. UK wind speeds generally average at between 8 knots and 9.5 knots with an annual average of at least 8 knots.
A ‘knot’ is equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, which equates to 1.15 mph. A gale force wind is defined as a surface wind with a mean speed of 34-40 knots, averaged over a 10 minute period. The Beaufort Wind Scale defines a ‘severe gale’ as wind speeds of 47-54 knots, a ‘storm’ has wind speeds of ‘55-63 knots’ and a ‘violent storm’ has wind speeds of 64-72 knots.
As an island nation, with a rich seafaring history, we use many nautical terms such as ‘knot’s. The term dates from the 17th century when seafarers would estimate the speed of their vessel using a device called a ‘common log’. This was a piece of wedge shaped wood attached to a long rope with knots tied at regular intervals. Dropping this into the sea as a ship moved forward and then counting the number of knots between the ship and the floating piece of wood provided an estimate of their speed. The Met Office translates wind speed measurements in knots into mph, highlighting the potential gust speeds, which can be the most damaging.
Wind in the UK is caused by low pressure systems, brought to the British Isles by the jet stream. This fast moving stream of air, high in the atmosphere, is what pushes these low pressure systems to the UK from the Atlantic ocean. The Met Office describes how winter wind speeds are projected to increase in the second half of the 21st century. This will bring an increase in the frequency of winter storms along with more severe storms in the future.
People are encouraged to be prepared for the impact of sever weather and high winds. Falling trees will typically block roads and railway lines, disrupting travel and power cuts can occur as power lines are damaged.
High winds and weather conditions like rain and fog can also adversely affect mobile telephone signals in some areas. Moisture in the air causes attenuation, weakening mobile signal strength. So if you reside in an area where mobile signal strength is already poor you can expect this to worsen in stormy weather.
People are advised to stay away from forests, country parks and nature reserves in high winds as there is significant risk of injury from falling branches and blown debris. Similarly, people are advised to stay away from coastal areas, where extremely high waves are expected, and keep away from cliff edges.
Motorists, especially those driving high sided vehicles, need to be acutely aware of the impact of gusting winds. Also, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders need to be aware of how strong gusts can potentially blow them across a road and into traffic.
During a storm people are advised to remain indoors as much as possible. When outdoors, be aware of blown debris and the possibility of structures, such as scaffolding, being blown over along with falling trees and branches. If damage is caused by a storm, repairs should not be attempted until after the storm has subsided.
It is important to be prepared for power cuts by having a supply of batteries for torches and a radio that can be used to monitor news updates. A supply of candles can also be useful, but they must be used with caution to avoid the possibility of fire. It is also a good idea to make certain mobile phones are fully charged and you have all of your essential phone numbers handy.
Trampolines, sheds and wheelie bins are highly susceptible to the impact of gusting high winds. Garden trampolines have been blown onto busy main roads in previous storms, causing a significant hazard to road users. And many garden sheds suffer damage due to rooftops being lifted by gusting winds or entire sheds being blown over.
Wheelie bins, typically stored outdoors, are another cause for concern in high winds. Wayward, wind-blown wheelie bins have caused significant damage to parked vehicles and this might not be covered by home or business insurance. If an owner has failed to take adequate precautions to prevent their wheelie bins from being blown loose then they can find their insurance company will not pay out if the bins damage somebodies property, such as their expensive car, in a storm.
The average household wheelie bin, when empty, weighs around 10kg and a larger commercial bin will typically weigh between 15-50kg. Much like high sided vehicles, wheelie bins are very susceptible to gusting winds so when one of these heavy bins is blown into a street full of parked vehicles a lot of expensive damage can be caused. Even a small dent can cost hundreds of pounds to repair, which is likely to come from bin owners pocket.
Regional councils are warning people to make certain their trampolines, sheds and wheelie bins are adequately secured before we are battered by 80 mph gale force winds.
Securing wheelie bins to withstand the impact of gale force winds is clearly important. If a full bin is tipped over in a storm, the wind-blown contents are likely to be strewn all over the neighbourhood, which is why councils encourage people and businesses to secure their wheelie bins. Here is what you need to do.
Start by locking the bin using a robust wheelie bin lock. A good wheelie bin lock, that affixes to a wall of fence post, prevents the wheelie bin from being blown into the street or tipped over.
Using a dedicated wheelie bin storage area is also a valuable precaution. An area like this can protect bins from the worst of the weather.
A DIY alternative to a wheelie bin lock is to use bungee cord, wrapped around the bin and through the handles, attached to a bracket on a wall or fence post.
Keeping groups of wheelie bins close together is another valuable precaution. Tieing bins together can help prevent them from being blown over in high winds, but can be inconvenient for refuse collectors.
Another important precaution is to look at your home or business insurance and perhaps consult with your insurers to get their wheelie bin security recommendations. If you ever need to make a claim you need to be certain you were compliant with their requirements.
The imminence of bad weather and high winds should prompt everyone to take a look at how secure their wheelie bins are. Paying attention to wheelie bin security is not only sensible for preventing wind-damage it’s also beneficial in many other ways.
Many burglars have used wheelie bins as ladders, to scale walls and climb onto rooftops. This is why its important to secure wheelie bins in locations where they can’t be used as a platform, to break into a property.
Sadly, wheelie bins have also been used in arson attacks wherein bins full of burning contents have been pushed up against a victim’s door. Locking wheelie bins and chaining them up prevents this appalling crime.
And wheelie bin vandalism is also prevented by paying attention to wheelie bin security, locking bins up and making certain they can’t be moved, opened or tipped over.
If you have any questions about wheelie bin security, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a ca ll on 01273 475500 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Wednesday 22nd January 2025