Storm Barm: Weather warnings and severe delays to accompany 1,100 Portsmouth faithful on trip to Swansea
Storm Bram is currently bringing extreme weather conditions to Swansea and other parts of Wales.
Pompey fans heading to Swansea for tonight’s Championship game at the Liberty Stadium will need to take extra care getting there - plus some extra time!
Met Office weather warnings for rain and strong winds following the arrival of Storm Bram are currently in force in south Wales, leading to travel disruption and power outages.
A yellow warning for rain became active at 6pm on Monday night and will remain in place until 2pm on Tuesday. Between 20-40mm of rainfall is anticipated.
Meanwhile, a similar warning for strong southerly winds will remain until 4pm this afternoon, with gusts of 45-55mph winds forecast.
The Blues’ game against the Swans doesn’t kick off until 7.45pm, with more than 1,100 Pompey tickets sold for the important match at the bottom of the Championship table.
At present, there is nothing to suggest that the Liberty Stadium fixture could fall victim to Storm Barm.
Yet, the weather conditions outlined means flood alerts are also in place, road closures are possible, extra care will be needed by those driving, while delays or cancellations to train and bus services are also possible.
Indeed, at present, there are severe delays on the M4 as the M48 Severn Bridge has closed due to high winds, and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge remains partially closed due to emergency lighting repairs.
Drivers are being faced with two-hour delays - and this is expected to get worse as the day progresses.
It’s also worth noting that the M4 will be shut in both directions tonight between Junction 21 and Junction 23 for road works. The closure will be in place between 8pm and 6am.
Pompey’s game at Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park last season was abandoned mid-game due to torrential rain, with the fixture having to be rescheduled for last January. However, for tonight’s match in Swansea, no rain is forecast from around 7pm. And with the rain also subsidding from around 2pm, on-site ground staff have time on their hands to ensure the playing surface is match-fit.
Swansea and Pompey in relegation trouble
Both teams will be desperate that the game goes ahead given their continued precarious positions in the Championship table.
Pompey, whose match at Charlton on Saturday was called off after just 12 minutes following a medical emergency in the home end, go into the match sitting 22nd having picked up just one win in nine.
They are currently one point adrift of safety, but with a game in hand on 21st-placed Oxford United, who lost 2-0 to the Swans at the weekend.
That victory for Swansea was their first under new boss Vitor Matos and ended a five-match losing streak.
It also took the Welsh side to 20th in the table and three points clear of John Mousinho’s side. Yet a two-goal winning margin for the visitors tonight will see them overtake them in the standings.
For your next Pompey read: Swansea City v Portsmouth: Early team and injury news as 7 out and 3 doubts for midweek showdown