11th December 2017. Strong winds with gusts of up to 92mph were recorded at NCI Prawle Point today, where a Coastwatch volunteer was ‘stuck to the wall’ by the strength of the wind.

National Coastwatch volunteer Nigel Cobb had to abandon his car and climb over fallen trees to reach the NCI station at Prawle Point. "It is very unusual for the winds to be that strong - I've never known it as bad," he said. "My colleague went out to open the visitor centre next door and she literally got stuck to the wall by the wind".

BBC Radio Devon contacted the station to confirm the strong wind speeds which were higher than most reported by the weather stations in Devon. Prawle Point Station Manager Andy Thomson commented “I guess yesterday Prawle Point was the most relevant Devon station since we are so far south and on a channel facing headland whereas the other stations would be somewhat sheltered in a westerly gale”.

The strong winds brought down power lines and trees and caused travel disruption in the South West. (Photograph courtesy of BBC News)