Portsmouth, Hampshire, is expected to see strong wind gusts of up to 42mph on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. According to the Met Office, the peak winds are likely to hit between 3pm and 8pm. Local residents are being encouraged to secure garden furniture, outdoor bins, and signage before the weather changes on Wednesday morning to prevent items from being blown away.
The wind is forecast to come from the east and east-southeast, which often causes significant coastal spray and waves to spill over onto the Southsea seafront. These conditions coincide with high spring tides following the new moon, as noted by TideTime, which increases the potential for tidal impacts along the coast. There is also a 40 per cent chance of rain forecast for the city starting from around 2pm on Wednesday afternoon.
While air temperatures will stay around 6°C, the cold breeze will make it feel as low as -2°C for most of the day. This wind chill may make walking along the promenade and other exposed areas very uncomfortable for residents and visitors. Anyone planning to be outdoors should prepare for much colder conditions than the thermometer suggests and wear appropriate clothing to stay warm.
Travel between Southsea and the Isle of Wight is likely to be affected by the very high winds throughout the day. Hovertravel usually stops its hovercraft services when winds reach 39mph or higher for safety reasons. If the hovercraft service is suspended, passengers are typically redirected to the Wightlink catamarans at Portsmouth Harbour to ensure they can still complete their journeys across the water.
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