CEREDIGION council is asking people to be careful this evening as Storm Arwen is expected to sweep over the region, bringing winds of up to 70mph.

An amber warning is in place across all of west Wales tonight from midnight until 9am, including Ceredigion.

Ceredigion County Council has issued a statement, saying: “People are reminded to be careful whilst travelling as the winds may result in fallen trees and debris being present on the highway.

“The public are also asked to be vigilant in relation to the potential damage to buildings and other structures, resulting in tiles and other debris falling in public areas.

“The winds could also lead to power cuts and effect other services.”

Energy company SP Energy Networks has also issued advice for people in the event of a power cut.

Liam O’Sullivan, SP Manweb Licence Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “Power cuts are rare but during storms they become more likely and the weather can make it difficult for our engineers to fix any issues that arise.

“With Storm Arwen forecast, it’s important our customers in North Wales are fully prepared for a power cut, just in case.

“We’re currently mobilising teams of engineers to areas where we expect Storm Arwen to have the most impact and our teams are on hand 24/7 to help all of our customers should they find themselves without power. The faster we know about a power cut the more quickly we can begin work to get electricity restored, so if you experience a power cut please report it to us by calling the new national emergency helpline 105.”

Liam O’Sullivan’s top tips for being prepared in the event of a power outage are:

• Have the national 105 emergency helpline on hand - it’s best to keep this on the fridge or saved in the contacts on your mobile phone.

• Store a battery or wind-up torch – leave this somewhere you can access easily so you can use the torch to check on the fuse box and make your way around the house safely.

• Beware of fallen powerlines – power lines may have fallen because of high winds so beware of this when venturing out of your home.

• Keep your mobile charged – having your mobile phone charged means that you can give us a call on the national 105 emergency helpline. It’s also worth having an analogue phone as this doesn’t run off the main electricity supply.

• Join the free Priority Services Register – if electricity is crucial to your health (for instance, if you use medical equipment at home) or you have a child aged five or under, or you just feel you need a little extra help, ask to be included on SP Energy Networks’ Priority Services Register by calling 0330 1010 167 or text PSR to 61999.