Our rule of thumb is that if Metcheck (or any other site) forecasts winds of 20mph alarm bells start to ring. If it's 25mph+ we would probably cancel/pack up.
Been caught in a gale once (30-40mph), poles split and tent partially collapsed, wind battering the tent was so loud we slept in the car and left for home at dawn.
I see you have an Outwell so I would bet you will be OK.We have been in very high winds in our Montana with no problem when all around us were coming home to a partially collapsed tent. Erecting it was difficult but once we had hauled up the first bit and pegged it, we then got stuff from the car to put inside to hold down the bottom. Once that was done it wasn't too much of a problem. Don't worry about it - presumably, if you are going for the weekend, you won't be so far away from home if you find that it is too much of a problem.
Current plan is we're going whatever! If its a disaster we can always come home.
Not so bothered about it being wet and miserable (in many ways quite looking forward a cosy tent in the rain) more worried about getting the tent up in the wind without ruining it and killing the family...
peg it down well and when ever possible check pegs are still firmly in giving all ness tweaks as much as poss. if you can pick a good spot and try to use your car as a wind break.
as for putting up the more hands the better 1 putting tent up 1/2 holding it down 1 running for the peg you just carnt reach. before you know it youll be laying looking at the stars thinking how clever you are
I'm fairly new although have had some bad weather camping already, luckily the tent was already up when the storm came and a gelert shop was close by for emergency gear (decent pegs and coats doh.
I would suggest having some heavy duty pegs and plenty of them, use every pegging point and double up if necessary. Use any luggage or weight in the corners or edge of the tent, Use a windbreak around the worst hit part of tent, I even parked the car alongside as some sort of barrier.
Try to find some sort of shelter e.g. wall , hedge, bank but try not to pitch near trees not only are they dangerous in wind but extremely noisy.
I wish you all the best, hope the forecast is wrong and you have a good time.
After years of using a pup tent outside main unit, daughter (17*+)has finally been allowed to go off independently with a friend. And where have they chosen to go? Devon arriving there today. I've had a confident phone call telling me it's going to lash it down all night and all tommorow but I don't need to worry because "you taught us how to handle camping in the rain and all that stuff!"
Worried about bad weather? Me?! Still at least they have vango over there heads so it should be OK!
Back from the weekend in Wiltshire. Driving to the site we experienced sideways lashing rain and making nightmare driving conditions and got increasingly concerned. Arrived, put the tent up in light rain that stopped by the time we were pegging out. An hour latter all sat outside with beers and wine enjoying the clear skies! Very windy - but the tent was delta pegged down.
Saturday a lovely - almost summers day even had a bbq in the evening. We experienced lashing rain in the night - but enjoyed it all snug up inside. Fortunate that the tent mostly dried out by the time we had to pack up (and before the next wave of showers kicked in). need to open it up at home in the garden for an hour to double check its completely dry.
Thanks for the replies - it convinced us to go and we had a great weekend.
We survived terrible winds at Rhosneigr one year in a not very sturdy eurohike tunnel tent, I ended up fixing the windward side guys to my car by trapping them in the windows and doors....one or two tents vanished in the nights ending up in Snowdonia no doubt, mine would have followed if I hadn't used the car as an achor....