FURIOUS Storm Ciarán caused chaos in the UK today as 104km/h winds toppled houses and sparked ‘life-threatening’ warnings.
Britons woke up this morning to scenes of chaos – with schoolchildren forced to stay at home, trees downed on houses and families rescued in rubber boats.
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The tourists were rescued from their cabins in Burton Bradstock, DorsetCredit: Getty
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Abandoned 4×4 vehicle hit by waves in DevonCredit: DevonLive
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A tree has fallen on a house in Bognor Regis, West SussexCredit: Eddie Mitchell
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Monster wave in Dawlish, Devon this morningCredit: SWNS
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Fallen tree crushes van in Penzance, CornwallCredit: Greg Martin/CornwallLive
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Collapsed wall in Teignmouth, DevonCredit: Apex
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Locals wade through floodwater in Bognor Regis Credit: LNP
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An overturned rubbish bin on the seafront at Swanage, DorsetCredit: BNPS
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A woman in Jersey picked up this huge hail Credit: PA
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The Met Office has updated its weather warning map Credit: Met Office
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Destroyed aviary at GSPCA animal shelter in Guernsey
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This morning a shopkeeper cleans a drain in a street in Worthing
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The wind blew off the roof of this house in Jersey
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Trampoline on rails near Hastings train stationCredit: Twitter/NetworkRailSE
Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes, three were left in hospital, and schools were closed to protect children.
Much of Britain was urged to stay safe as the stormy weather hit around 6pm on Wednesday night – with wild conditions worsening.
The government has issued 73 flood warnings and 182 warnings across the UK.
A red alert was issued in Jersey from November 1 until today, with residents advised to stay at home as Jersey Police recorded winds of 104 mph.
Aviaries and outdoor enclosures were damaged at the GSPCA animal shelter in nearby Guernsey.
P&O Ferries has canceled all services from Dover to Calais “until further notice”, with flights from some UK airports delayed.
National Highways East said the A14 Orwell Bridge in Suffolk was closed in both directions – with a mile of congestion either side of the crossing.
The Tornado and Storm Survey has warned southern England could be hit by winds of up to 90mph today.
There have been reports of a tornado in Jersey – but the local weather service has yet to confirm it.
Locals on the island also noticed “golf ball sized” hail falling from the sky.
And in a post on Twitter, now known as X, at around 03.30am, Jersey Police said they had already moved 39 people from storm damage to their homes overnight, while three were taken to hospital.
They said: “So far tonight, 29 adults, 6 children and 7 pets have been moved to hotel accommodation due to property damage. Four people and a cat have been moved to another address and 3 people have been taken to Emergency Medical Services.”
A new yellow warning has been issued for Saturday, which will affect London and the south-east from 3pm to midnight.
Footage shared online shows the shocking moment a window shattered and flew towards a mother and her baby in St Helier, Jersey’s largest city.
It comes as…
About 16,000 households in the storm’s path are without power, a spokesman for the Energy Networks Association told The Sun.
National Grid said 8,500 homes in Cornwall were without power this morning.
Local councilor Martyn Alvey told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that workers were struggling to restore power to “vulnerable people” in coastal areas.
In Dorset, tourists had to be rescued in dinghies from their cabins in Burton Bradstock.
A major incident has also been declared in Hampshire, Jersey and the Isle of Wight.
Forecasters have warned that Storm Ciaran could pose a “risk to life” as winds of up to 80km/h are expected in coastal areas.
One person has already died in the storm in France, where 1.2 million homes are without electricity.
This led to the closure of schools in Jersey, Southampton, the Isle of Wight and some across Devon and Cornwall.
Popular ferry services have also been suspended due to red weather warnings in the Channel Islands.
Condor ferries have suspended both freight and passenger routes today, with DFDS canceling selected services from East Sussex to France.
Delays and cancellations are also expected on their Dover-Calais routes.
It came after the Jersey Weather Service predicted winds of up to 98mph could hit the coast this morning.
Two yellow wind warnings are also currently in place across southern England.
The alert covering the southwest coast is in effect until 11 a.m., while relief can be expected in the southeast until 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, a yellow wind warning has been issued in Wales today until midnight tomorrow.
Moving towards the north of the UK, another level yellow warning for rain has been placed over areas in the Midlands – in force until the same time.
Finally, from 6am to 6pm, a similar rain warning covers Newcastle and stretches across eastern Scotland.
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A flooded field in Wool, DorsetCredit: Apex
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A submerged road sign near Bognor Regis in West Sussex Credit: LNP
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Overturned van in Kent this morningCredit: UKNIP
The Met Office told affected Britons to expect a possible “danger to life” from flying debris.
“Damage to buildings and houses is possible, with roofs blown off and trees and power lines down,” the spokesman added.
“Roads, bridges and rail lines may be closed, with delays and cancellations of buses, trains, ferry services and flights.”
Power outages and cell phone coverage are also likely to be affected by the storm.
Meanwhile, “large waves and beach material being washed up on seashores, coastal roads and properties” are also a concern for those in coastal communities.
Forecasters also warned there was a “small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings” in areas under yellow weather warnings.
“Where flooding occurs, there is a low likelihood of delays or cancellations of rail and bus services,” they added.
“Sprinkling and flooding may lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.”
There is also a possibility that areas will be cut off due to flooding and there could be a loss of power.
This comes after much of the UK was thrown into chaos last week as heavy rain caused flooding.
On Sunday, Lanchester Village, County Durham, homes and businesses were submerged overnight.
Most roads through the city were closed while emergency services worked to help those affected.
Torrential rain has wreaked havoc in London as commuters navigate waterlogged junctions.
Meanwhile, Littlehampton, in Sussex, was even hit by a “tornado” which saw an entire roof blown off a property.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organization (Torro) told the BBC it was “definitely a tornado” that had hit the area after investigating the scene.
Elsewhere, in West Sussex, the Bognor Regis Tesco car park was spotted completely underwater due to flooding.
On Saturday, a shopping center was forced to evacuate after flooding in a large coastal city.
Elsewhere in the country, stranded vehicles were seen in a Gloucestershire town car park as flood warnings remained in place.
Meanwhile, the River Stour at Christchurch Harbor in Dorset also burst its banks after heavy rain.
It came just after Storm Babet tragically left seven dead and thousands of homes under water.
Age The best advice for older people in the UK
Here’s Age UK’s best advice for older people caught in the middle of Storm Ciaran:
- Secure loose objects in gardens such as tools or ladders.
- Stay indoors as much as possible. If you must go out, be aware of exposed areas where strong crosswinds may be blowing.
- Follow the weather forecast.
- Phone 105. Remember the number 105, which is a toll-free number, to find information during a power outage.
- Write down or print emergency contact numbers, including your fire and rescue service, local authority flood services, local Age UK, energy, water and telephone suppliers and distributors and insurers. Put them in a place that you will remember and that will be easily accessible, for example next to the refrigerator, the phone or the door.
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives who live alone, are sick or have mobility issues, or those who are particularly vulnerable, who rely on an oxygen machine or stairlift, as well as those with long-term illnesses and disabilities who cannot easily leave the house.
- Sign up to your energy supplier’s Priority Services Register to get extra help in the event of a power outage. More information is available here.
- Make sure you have everything you need. Make sure you have enough medicine and food in case it becomes more difficult for you to leave the house. A bottle of water could come in handy if the water supply is interrupted.
- Have flashlights handy in the house in case of a power outage. And some spare batteries too.
- Plan ahead when you drive. Try to avoid going out in your car in bad weather if possible and be sure to follow advice on driving conditions in your area. If you do have to go out, pack the following items in case you get stuck: blankets, water bottle or hot drink bottle, snacks, shovel, defroster or scraper, cell phone and charger.
WEATHER WARNINGS
What to expect, according to the Met Office
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- Where flooding occurs, there is little likelihood of delays or cancellations of train and bus services
- Spraying and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a small chance that some communities will be cut off by flooded roads
- There is a slight likelihood of power outages and loss of other services for some homes and businesses
STAY SAFE
Five tips for staying safe in a storm, according to the Met Office
- Check if your property is at risk – if so, prepare a flood plan and emergency equipment.
- Stay safe in a flood – park your car outside the flood zone, store valuables and electrical appliances high, turn off gas, water and electricity.
- Secure loose items such as bins, plant pots, garden furniture, trampolines and lock storage doors.
- Is it safe for you to drive? If you must drive, slow down, use main roads, low beams and keep a wider distance between vehicles.
- During a power outage:
- Turn off all electrical devices that must not be left unattended, ready to be turned on again.
- Leave the light on so you know when the power outage is fixed.
- Check that your neighbors are safe and that they too have a power outage. If they have power, the trip switch may have tripped.
- If it’s cold, wrap up warm and close the inner door to keep in the heat.
- Portable heaters are a good alternative if the heating systems are not working.
- Call 105 for information, it’s a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales
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Source: HIS Education