Long Range Weather Forecasts - Part 2

The accident near Trowbridge can be read about in this BBC report, and in this one from the Daily Mail. It was a collision between a lorry and a car, no mention of winds in the BBC report, although there is in the Mail.

According to the nearby weather station at RAF Fairford, the average wind speed on that day was 15 mph, with a max wind speed of 24 mph and a max gust speed of 33 mph. According to the Beaufort scale, a wind speed of 24 mph is only a fresh breeze, gale force winds don't start until 39 mph, and that is not gusts, but consistent wind. Storm force winds are above 55 mph. There was no way that the accident was due to a severe storm, although of course weather conditions could have contributed, as it was wet and dark at the time of the accident. Both newspaper reports are taking artistic licence.....