Storm Ciaran has arrived, bringing destruction in its wake including roofs ripped off houses, damaged cars- and smashed windows.
A major incident has been declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as the bad weather brings winds of up to 100mph and heavy rain.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and alerts across much of the country, including dozens along the south coast.
A Met Office map shows Amber weather warnings in place— (Met Office)
As of midday on Thursday there are 78 flood warnings - where flooding is expected - and 189 flood alerts - where flooding is possible.
Ben Lukey, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Large waves and onshore gales brought by Storm Ciaran could see significant flooding along parts of the south coast and along parts of the Yorkshire and Northeast coasts on Thursday.”
People have been rescued from their holiday chalets in Dorset— (Getty)
Over 200 flood warnings and alerts have been issued across the UK— (Gov.uk)
The major incident was declared by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum, with the local fire service warning there was a “potential risk to life” as well as a risk of damage to buildings, falling trees, and flooding.
Across the south coast, an amber warning runs from 6am to 5pm on Thursday with winds expected to reach 70mph to 80mph, with the potential for 85mph and large waves.
A further amber warning is in place until 11am in Cornwall and Devon, with the Met Office predicting Storm Ciaran will bring winds of 75mph to 85mph, with 65mph to 75mph gusts inland.
A red wind warning, the highest level, was issued by Jersey Met into Thursday with people warned to avoid outside activity due to predicted gusts of almost 100mph. The French coast saw winds of up to 110mph in western Brittany overnight.
Vehicles drove through a flooded road in West Sussex— (PA)
Cars, homes and buildings have been damaged as Storm Ciaran hits theUK— (EPA)
All flights from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney airports on Thursday have been cancelled.
Commuters in southern England were urged to work from home by Southern Rail, with Southeastern “strongly advising” passengers not to travel on routes in and out of London before 9am on Thursday as they assess any fallen trees and debris on the line.
Other operators were warning of delays and cancellations.
A spokesperson on behalf of train operators said: “Our colleagues will be working extremely hard over the coming days to keep passengers on the move but also to keep them safe during this bad weather.
“We will be working closely with Network Rail to understand the impact on the rail network, and we are encouraging passengers to check their journey before travelling.”
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Brent Walker said: “Very strong winds are expected along southern coastal areas of England in particular, where gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible, perhaps exceeding 85 mph in a few exposed locations. Further inland, gusts could reach up to 50 or 60mph.
“As well as strong winds, there will be heavy rain across many parts of the UK.
A warehouse was destroyed in Western Europe in the town of Porpoder in France— (AFP via Getty Images)
The front screen of a bus was blown out because of heavy winds— (PA)
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) urged people watching the conditions to stay away from the coast.
RNLI water safety manager Ross Macleod said: ‘This rough weather could make visiting our coasts around southern England and Wales treacherous and bring very dangerous sea conditions.
“While people may want to experience extreme weather around the coast, we would strongly advise against doing so. It is not worth risking your life, so we urge people to respect the water and watch from a safe distance.”
Northern Ireland has already seen flooding, where a yellow rain warning from the Met Office was in place until 9am on Wednesday.
A similar notice was issued for southern parts of England and Wales from 6pm on Wednesday until the end of Thursday.
A yellow warning for rain is also in place from 6am on Thursday to 6am on Friday for north-east England and Scotland, stretching up to Inverness.
A woman stands with her dog in Dorset as the storm rages— (Getty)
List of flood warnings
- Amberley on the River Arun, West Sussex
- Arundel on the River Arun, West Sussex
- Beaulieu, Hampshire
- Bersted on the Aldingbourne Rife, West Sussex
- Bumpstead Brook through Steeple Bumpstead to New England, Suffolk
- Calshot, Hythe, Marchwood, Eling and Redbridge, Hampshire
- Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane, Perth and Kinross
- Christchurch Harbour Side, Dorset
- Climping, West Sussex
- Cowes, East Cowes, and Newport, Isle of Wight
- Creyke, Mill and Broadlane Becks at Cottingham, East Yorkshire
- Dorset coast at Chiswell
- Dorset coast at Preston Beach
- Dorset coast at Swanage Bay
- Felpham on the Aldingbourne Rife, West Sussex
- Fittleworth on the Western Rother, West Sussex
- Hamble estuary, Hampshire
- Itchen estuary, Hampshire
- Landford to Wade Bridge on the River Blackwater, Hampshire
- Luce Bay, Wigtownshire
- Low Barlings and the Short Ferry area, Lincolnshire
- Mansbridge and Woodmill on the River Itchen, Hampshire
- North Sea at Roker, Sunderland
- Poole Harbour at Wareham, Dorset
- Poole Harbour at West Quay and Lower Hamworthy Quay, Dorset
- Portland Harbour at Ferry Bridge, Dorset
- River Avon from Didworthy to Aveton Gifford, Devon
- River Axe (Lower) from Axminster to Axmouth, Devon
- River Axe (Mid) at Axminster, Devon
- River Axe (Upper) from Winsham to Axminster, including Chard Junction and Weycroft, Devon
- River Brit at Netherbury, Dorset
- River Brit at Newtown, and Southgate Old Mill, Beaminster, Dorset
- River Brit at Pymore Island and Queenwell, Pymore, Dorset
- River Brit at Riverside and George Street, West Bay, Dorset
- River Brit at Skilling Playing Fields and West Bay Road Nursery, Dorset
- River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge, low lying properties, Somerset
- River Clyst from Broadclyst to Clyst St. Mary, Devon
- River Culm (Upper) from Hemyock to Cullompton, Devon
- River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill, North Yorkshire
- River Derwent at Stamford Bridge - The Weir Caravan Park and Kexby Bridge, North Yorkshire
- River Harbourne at Crowdy Mill, Beenleigh, Bow and Tuckenhay, Devon
- River Isle at Ilminster, Somerset
- River Isle from Chard Reservoir to Hambridge not including Ilminster, Somerset
- River Otter (Lower) from Salston to Budleigh Salterton, Devon
- River Ouse at York - riverside properties
- River Parrett (upper) at Thorney and Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset
- River Parrett (upper) from South Perrott to Thorney, Dorset and Somerset
- River Plym from Shaugh Bridge to Riverside Caravan Park, Devon
- River Ritec at Tenby, Pembrokeshire
- River Teign (Lower) from Chudleigh to Kingsteignton, Devon
- River Witham and associated Fens from Washingborough to Metheringham, Lincolnshire
- River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster, Devon
- River Yeo from Sherborne to Yeovil, Dorset and Somerset
- Rushington and Eling on the Bartley Water, Hampshire
- Sandown, Brading and Bembridge on the Eastern Yar, Isle of Wight
- Somerset coast at Porlock Weir
- South Cornwall coast at Mounts Bay, seafront properties
- South Cornwall Coast from Gribbin Head to Rame Head
- South Cornwall coast from Lands End to Lizard Point excluding Mounts Bay
- South Cornwall coast from Lizard Point to Gribbin Head excluding Truro City
- South Cornwall Coast from Rame Head to Wembury Bay including tidal estuaries
- South Hayling and South Eastoke seafront, Hampshire
- Upper Frome at Maiden Newton, Dorset
- Upper Frome from Maiden Newton to Dorchester, Dorset
- West Bay East Beach, Dorset
- West Bay Harbour and Esplanade, Dorset
- West Dean to Dunbridge on the River Dun, Hampshire
- Whitwell, Wroxall, Langbridge, Alverstone on the Eastern Yar, Isle of Wight
- Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
