Storm Ciaran live: UK braced for floods with 80 warnings in place
More than 80 flood warnings are in place across the UK as Storm Ciaran moves northwards after battering southern England. In an update on Thursday afternoon, the Environment Agency has declared 82 areas of the country are at risk of flooding, up from 54 earlier in the day. In Dorset, a holiday park had to be evacuated after static homes became swamped with firefighters using an inflatable boat to rescue people.
While the AA warned motorists not to drive in the worst hit areas of southern England amid widespread disruption on roads and railways across the country. Hundreds of schools were closed across the country and thousands left without power after gusts of up to 80mph buffeted the country overnight and Thursday morning.
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‘Significant disruption’ to LNER service
There have been “multiple incidents” which are causing “significant disruption” to the London North Eastern Railway on Thursday, it said.
LNER added: “We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if you can. There is major disruption and you may be heavily delayed.” It hopes to resume services as soon as possible.
Jersey Airport to be closed until Friday
Jersey Airport will remain closed until Friday while it works to fix damage caused by Storm Ciaran, it said.
Ports of Jersey said in a statement: “Engineers have been assessing the damage caused by Storm Ciaran and detailed inspections of the airport estate have identified extensive infrastructure, equipment and system failures.” It is expected to reopen at 2pm on Friday but the airport will confirm at around midday. It added: “The airport remains open for emergencies and medical transfers.”
Pictured: Storm Ciaran
Storm Ciaran at high tide at Brighton beach on ThursdayCredit: David Smith /Alamy Live News
Waves crash over the harbour wall in Newhaven, southern England on ThursdayCredit: Kin Cheung/AP
A mechanical digger on the beach in Dorset where Storm Ciaran hit on ThursdayCredit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Europe6:11PM[5]
Floods Minister praises emergency services for work through Storm Ciaran
The Floods Minister has praised the emergency services for their work during Storm Ciaran, adding that the risks remain high across the UK.
Rebecca Pow said: “I am grateful to the emergency services teams across the country working incredibly hard to respond to Storm Ciaran which continues to bring strong winds and rain across the south coast. “Potential flooding risks remain across the country with river levels remaining high with large waves at the coast and saturated ground.” She said the Environment Agency are clearing rivers and debris from falling trees and supporting residents affected by flooding.
Ms Pow said: “We have activated our Emergency Operations Centre, and are supporting the Cabinet Office to coordinate the government response.”
Yellow warning in Scotland extended
A yellow weather warning for rain has been extended in eastern Scotland until 6pm on Friday.
? Yellow weather warning UPDATED ? The end time of the warning has been extended until Friday evening, but parts of northeast England and central Scotland have been removed.
NOW – Friday 1800 Latest info ? https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs[7] Stay #WeatherAware? pic.twitter.com/N4G8JhJQLp[8][9]
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 2, 2023[10]5:34PM[11]
Six dead in Europe including five-year-old
Six people have now died in Europe as Storm Ciaran hits the continent.
A five-year-old child was killed in Ghent, Belgium, after being hit by falling tree branches. There have also been deaths across Venray, Holland; Madrid, Spain; Germany and France.
Flood support scheme extended
Schemes to support businesses that have been flooded in recent weeks have been extended to retailers and community groups affected by Storm Ciaran. The two schemes have been approved for small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations unable to secure flood insurance.
Ministers made the decision at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday to extend the two schemes to businesses based in counties Louth and Wexford that were hit by flooding between Oct 24 and Nov 5.
Schools not open until Monday
Some children may not be able to get back into their classrooms until Monday after Storm Ciaran battered the south of England and the Channel Islands with gusts of up to 100mph and heavy rain. Damage to properties in Jersey meant some residents had to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in a hotel, with one woman saying hailstones “bigger than a golf ball” had broken her windows.
AA flooded warning after man treated for hypothermia
The AA has rescued a driver who was stuck in flood water and suffering from hypothermia, BBC reports. The breakdown service told motorists to avoid the dangerous conditions after dozens of motorists were caught on flooded roads.
Nick Powell, a roadside specialist from the AA, said: “If you must travel, check the travel news before you set off and take particular care where roads dip, for example under railway bridges, which are more likely to flood. “If the road ahead is flooded, don’t chance it – flood water can be deceptively deep so turn around and find another route.”
Pictured: Storm Ciaran
A high tidal surge breaks at Brighton Pier in Brighton on Nov 2Credit: ANDY RAIN/Shutterstock
Friends from Ireland shelter from rain under an umbrellas on Westminster Bridge on Nov 2Credit: London News Pictures3:48PM[16]
Power restored to 107,000 buildings
Emergency engineers have restored power to 107,000 properties in the wake of Storm Ciaran. The Energy Networks Association (ENA), which represents energy companies, said the buildings are no longer cut off despite the “challenging conditions”.
It said: “While difficult conditions remain, with violent winds forecast until the end of the day, teams from across the country are working together to continue to reconnect customers where it is safe to do so.”
Farmers say flooding due to poor management by Environmental Agency
Farmers and rural communities are “unfairly shouldering the burden” of flooding because of “years of poor management” from the Environment Agency, the rural landowners’ body has said. Storm Ciaran is the second storm in two weeks to cause flooding across the UK, with the Met Office having issued yellow warnings for rain stretching throughout the south of England, Wales, north-east England and Scotland. There are also 77 flood warnings in place from the Environment Agency showing a risk to properties, many of which are along the south coast.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) wants the Government to do more to support farmers and landowners and said their fields are being sacrificed to save houses and villages downstream. Regional director Tim Bamford said: “Flooding can have a massive impact on farming and the countryside, with crops damaged and rural communities often cut off. “Years of poor management of watercourses and flood defences by the Environment Agency, often caused by lack of resources, mean farmers are still unfairly shouldering the burden of flooding devastation.”
Storm rips tiles off house roofs
Storm Ciaran has ripped tiles off the roofs of houses in St Clement, Jersey.
In a video posted on X/Twitter red tiles can be seen scattered across a residential road, with car windows smashed and fences collapsed in the wake of the storm.
A friend who lives in St Clement, Jersey, finally able to get outside and assess the damage in his estate. Scale of damage is shocking. #StormCiaran pic.twitter.com/L41PpHYH1h[19][20]
— Consumer Carl (@CarlWalker7) November 2, 2023[21]3:28PM[22]
Storm Ciaran destroys cafe in Devon
A seafront cafe in Devon was forced to close on Thursday after Storm Ciaran blew its front door open and glass windows out. James Tribble, the owner of The Hideaway in Seaton, Devon, was awoken by an alert on his motion detection security camera at the establishment at 7.15am.
Mr Tribble said he hasn’t seen conditions like this in more than a decade. He said: “It was a picture of the front door being blown in and one of the windows being blown out. “I’m standing foot deep in a pile of pebbles and there’s council signage and the coastal path sign on the floor.
“Never in the ten years that I’ve lived in Seaton have I had water come up and encircle the building and water dump in.”
Council responds to more than 100 incidents
Somerset Council’s highways teams have responded to more than 100 incidents as Storm Ciaran causes chaos for motorists. Around 30 incidents involved fallen or hazardous trees while much of the rest were flood-related. The council said 10 schools in the county were closed due to staff and students facing travel problems while Haygrove School in Bridgwater was closed due to building safety concerns.
Why Storm Ciaran may have affected your cup of tea
The UK has experienced exceptionally low levels of atmospheric pressure thanks to Storm Ciaran – which could have dire consequences for your cup of tea, Emma Gatten reports.
Lower air pressure has only been recorded once before within the last 200 years, on 25 February 1989, said the University of Reading. “The most intense storms tend to be associated with very low atmospheric pressure, and this was certainly the case during the passage of Storm Ciaran across southern England this morning,” said Dr Stephen Burt, from the Department of Meteorology. The Met Office said record low air pressure for England in November had been recorded, pushing the boiling point of water 2C lower than normal.
? #StormCiaran[25] has set a new record for the lowest mean sea level pressure recorded in England and Wales in November, with a value of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth and 958.5 hPa (mb) in St Athan
? The previous record in England was 959.7 hPa (mb), set in 1916 ?
The previous… pic.twitter.com/zruckdYR2K[26]
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 2, 2023[27]
“The lower the pressure, the less energy the water needs to turn liquid particles into gas particles so the boiling point is lower,” said Alexander Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist. At the top of Everest, where air pressure is around 70 per cent lower than at sea level, the boiling point is 68C. But Mr Burkill cautioned that while the lower air pressure means the boiling point of water is lower than normal, that might not be good news for tea drinkers.
“Whilst it did mean the boiling point of water was around 2 degrees lower than normal, it also meant the water wouldn’t be hot enough to make the best tea, which needs 100C,” he said.
Storm Ciaran pictures: Waves, fallen trees and windsurfer
Family soaked as waves crash over the sea wall at Southsea, PortsmouthCredit: Peter Macdiarmid/LNP/Peter Macdiarmid/LNP
Beachgoer watches on as waves crash in NewhavenCredit: REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Mature trees brought down at Falmouth Cemetery in CornwallCredit: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images/Hugh Hastings/Getty Images
Windsurfer takes to the waves off the coast of BournemouthCredit: Vagner Vidal/Hyde News/Vagner Vidal/Hyde News
Firefighters from West Sussex attend an incident in Pagham where a tree fell onto a houseCredit: Adam Gerrard / Mirrorpix/Adam Gerrard / Mirrorpix2:40PM[29]
Rail services in Scotland to be disrupted until Saturday
Train passengers in parts of Scotland and on some cross-border services will face delays until Saturday morning due to weather warnings in place as a result of Storm Ciaran, rail operators have announced. A yellow warning for rain is in place for the east coast, from the Moray coast stretching down to Hull, until 6am on Friday. Rail operator LNER said no services will run between Edinburgh and Aberdeen until Saturday in both directions.
Its service between Newcastle and Edinburgh will run hourly from 3pm on Thursday until the end of service on Friday. Speed restrictions will be in place on the route, which may see services subject to delays of up to 40 minutes. Network Rail is imposing speed restrictions across parts of Scotland and while most ScotRail services will be unaffected, some areas will see delays.
Speed restrictions will be in place on routes between Aberdeen and Inverness; Dundee and Aberdeen; Inverness and Wick; and Perth and Inverness. ScotRail said the first of these speed restrictions will be in place from 3pm on Thursday and last until 8am on Saturday.
Major incident downgraded in Hampshire and Isle of Wight
A major incident declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been downgraded after authorities said the area did not see the “full extent of the forecast weather”. Schools across Hampshire were closed on Thursday as officials from the Local Resilience Forum, a group which plans for emergencies, said highways workers were ready to work “around the clock”.
But on Thursday afternoon, authorities said the storm’s status as a major incident had been stood down. Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo, LRF chairman, said: “While we have seen flooding of properties and roads, power outages and disruption to the highways networks caused by the wind and rain, we have thankfully not seen the full extent of the forecast weather, and we are now in a position to stand down the major incident response.”
Woman dead on beach in Wales
A woman has been found dead after her body washed up on a beach during Storm Ciaran. The woman, who has not been named, was found at around 4.20pm on Wednesday during bad weather.
Police, ambulance and coastguard officials were called to the beach at Penarth, South Wales, which is popular with walkers and open water swimmers. South Wales Police said they are investigating the discovery. A force spokesperson said: “A body of a woman was found on Penarth Beach at around 4.20pm yesterday, Wednesday, November 1.
The woman’s identity is not known at this stage and enquiries are ongoing.”
Northern Ireland’s rivers reach record high levels
Flooding in Royal Hillsborough, Co Down, on Wednesday
Despite avoiding the worst of Storm Ciaran, rivers in Northern Ireland reached record high levels following several days of heavy rain. On Thursday morning, the train line between Portadown and Dundalk was closed, while bus services were suspended in Downpatrick due to flooding in the town. The Department for Infrastructure described “significant flooding” in Downpatrick, adding it may not be able to work to reduce the flood water until Friday when river levels have dropped.
The department said: “Our engineering team has assessed the situation and estimated that it could be tomorrow before we, along with multi-agency partners, can progress the reduction of the floodwater at Market Street, Downpatrick. “The main reason for this is that the water levels in the river and its smaller tributaries need to decrease before we can make meaningful progress.”
Jersey resident – Storm Ciaran was like ‘disaster movie’
Jersey’s Grand Hotel shows signs of damage after winds reaching 100 mph tore through the island
Jersey residents have likened Storm Ciaran to a “scene from a disaster movie” Carl Walker, 45, who is based in St Helier on the Channel island told the PA news agency residents have been “well warned and prepared for the past few days” about how the storm could affect them, but added: “I don’t think anyone expected it to be quite as bad as it was.”
He and his family were woken by huge hailstorms at midnight, which he said were “marble-sized” and had gelled together to create “golf ball sized lumps of ice”. “We camped out in our living room downstairs with our children (Ellie-Rose, 13, Callum, 11 and Erin, 7) because it was just simply too noisy and too frightening to be upstairs in the bedrooms – tiles were lifting, debris was hitting the roof, windows were flexing,” added Mr Walker. “The noise of the wind was just incredible and quite frightening.
It was like a scene from a disaster movie.”
Storm Ciaran sets new record for sea level pressure
? #StormCiaran[35] has set a new record for the lowest mean sea level pressure recorded in England and Wales in November, with a value of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth and 958.5 hPa (mb) in St Athan ? The previous record in England was 959.7 hPa (mb), set in 1916
? The previous… pic.twitter.com/zruckdYR2K[36]
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 2, 2023[37]12:45PM[38]
Latest Storm Ciaran pictures
These latest photographs show the scale of disruption as Storm Ciaran brought powerful winds and torrential downpours to the UK on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Waves whipped up by Storm Ciaran crash against the harbour wall at Lyme Regis
A cross channel ferry battles strong winds as it sails near Dover
A person and their dog watch the waves in Dorset
Drivers on the M5 have to contend with water spray and winds12:33PM[39]
Environment Agency issue 79 flood warnings
The Environment Agency has put in place 79 flood warnings in place and 195 alerts. The numbers have increased from earlier on Thursday with 54 warnings and 134 alerts in place as of 7am
The majority of warnings remain along the southern coast after Storm Ciaran made landfall on Wednesday evening but there are flooding concerns in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East.
Wet and windy afternoon for many
The Met Office has warned may face a wet and windy afternoon as Storm Ciaran moves northwards after battering southern England overnight and on Thursday morning.
? A wet and windy afternoon for many as #StormCiaran[41] slowly tracks northeastwards ?
Drier across Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland with plenty of sunshine ? Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/eqgA5tl1NY[42][43]
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 2, 2023[44]12:12PM[45]
Pictures: People rescued from holiday chalets in Dorset
New photographs have emerged of the moment firefighters rescued people from chalets at the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Dorset.
Fire engines, an ambulance and a coastguard helicopter were scrambled to the holiday park in Burton Bradstock as floods have overtaken the grounds. The park has been forced to close due to the impact of Storm Ciaran with five static homes badly damaged.
Firefighters rescue people from Freshwater Beach Holiday Park
Storm Ciaran swept across the southwest and south of England overnight
Cars at the holiday park were left submerged
Static homes became swamped by flood waters11:59AM[46]
Port of Dover reopens to shipping
The Port of Dover has now reopened to shipping after all sailings were suspended earlier today. Passengers have been told to check with their ferry operator for updates.
The Port of Dover has now re-opened to shipping, though some delays should be expected over the coming hours as traffic clears.
Passengers should continue to follow @PoD_travelnews[47] and check with their chosen ferry operator for updates throughout the day.
— Port of Dover Travel (@PoD_travelnews) November 2, 2023[48]11:56AM[49]
Don’t drive in storm’s worst-hit areas, AA warns
Car drives through floods in West Sussex
The AA has advised motorists against driving in the areas worst affected by Storm Ciaran and said dozens of people have been rescued from flooded roads. Patrols helped one driver stuck in flood water on a rural road in Newbury, Berkshire, and called for an ambulance as it appeared they needed medical attention for suspected hypothermia Heavy rain is expected to cause travel disruption to parts of the UK over the next couple of days.
These conditions are expected to be at their worst in southern and eastern England. Nick Powell, AA Patrol of the Year, says: “In the worst areas affected by flooding drivers should consider whether they really need to make that journey. Driving conditions can quickly deteriorate during very heavy rainfall, with drains becoming swamped or blocked and standing water causing problems such as surface spray, reduced visibility and potentially leading to flooding.
“Just 60cm of standing water will float your car and 30cm of flowing water could be enough to move your car.”
Taps run dry across south east
Taps in some households have run dry as South East Water says it has been impacted by the power cuts, Emma Gatten reports. “Due to the continued strong winds affecting power supplies across the south east there are a number of localised areas which are receiving intermittent water supplies,” the company said. “As soon as we’re alerted to a supply issue we are responding as quickly as possible to get taps flowing again.
“Our key sites continue to operate on generators to ensure we can keep treating and pumping water to the majority of properties, maintaining supplies to as many as possible in the event of a power cut.”
Ferries cancelled at Newhaven
Ferries have been suspended as a result of high winds
Sailings have also been suspended from Newhaven as well as Dover, Jaya Narin reports. Ferry crossings from Newhaven to Dieppe have been cancelled on Thursday morning as well as journeys from Dover to Calais. Gusts of 78mph were recorded at Langdon Bay, just to the east of Dover with torrential rain and winds lashing the whole of the south coast.
Dozens of schools across Kent and East and West Sussex were closed with Albourne School in Hassocks, West Sussex, forced to send pupils home after it was struck by lightning then lost power and was flooded. Around 700 homes in rural Sussex villages lost power, including Alfriston, Jevington and Polegate and the Whitehawk area of East Brighton has also had its power cut off. Gail force winds brought down trees and roads blocked with police urging motorists to only drive if necessary.
Pedestrians were urged to take care and to avoid the seafront and piers in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. Sussex Police said: “We are very busy this morning dealing with collisions and carriageway hazards across the county.
Storm Ciaran reaction – ‘wild gardens’ and hailstones ‘bigger than golf balls’
Residents in areas battered by Storm Ciaran have told how they woke up to find hailstones bigger than golf balls. Suzie Phillips, 44, who is based in Jersey, told the PA news agency, she was disturbed by huge hailstones at around midnight.
“The hailstones were quite a bit heavier and bigger than a golf ball and we’ve had three windows damaged by them – in my daughter’s bedroom, a landing and a bathroom,” she said. “It was quite worrying, especially for the kids – they were quite anxious about it.” Meanwhile, a woman living in Bexhill, East Sussex, said the storm left her garden looking wild after powerful winds began whipping up from 6am.
Nicola Pharoah, a photo editor, told PA: “This is the strongest wind we have ever had – it’s not stopping either. The wind started getting very strong at about 6am and now we getting huge gusts every 30 or 40 seconds. “There is a permanent dull hum in the background from the sea that’s at the bottom of our road, and garden just looks wild.”
Bibby Stockholm barge cut off amid flood fears
Storm Ciaran has cut off the island of Portland where the Bibby Stockholm migrant barge is moored after a flood alert siren was activated for only the second time in nine years, Charles Hymas reports.
Home Office sources confirmed the causeway road serving Portland and the barge had been closed due to flood risks but the vessel was so far unaffected. The Dorset isle, which has a population of 13,000, has only the one road on and off of it. The Environment Agency closed the causeway at just after 8am and activated the wailing siren for the whole community to hear.
There are fears that the sea could soon breach the coastal defences along the mile-long causeway connecting Portland to the mainland as 90mph winds batter Britain. The local authority say they expect the road to be closed for the next few hours until the worst of the storm passes. Dorset Council UK tweeted: “Portland Beach Road is now closed.
We have teams at either end of the road to assist with any problems, but we expect the highway to be closed for at least a few hours. “We’ll provide further updates as soon as we know when it is likely to reopen.”
16,700 homes without power on Thursday
Around 16,700 customers in the path of the storm are without power as of 8am this morning, according to the Energy Networks Association, including around 8,000 in Cornwall, Emma Gatten reports. The ENA said operators had reconnected 81 per cent of customers this morning who were affected by storm-related power cuts overnight.
Homes without power are mainly in the south west, stretching along the southern coast and into the Kent area, the ENA said. At 11am 1,228 properties in East Sussex and 535 properties in West Sussex without power. UK Power Networks said power supplies across the South East have been affected by strong winds and heavy rain.
A spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to all customers impacted, we understand how difficult is to be without power.”
Watch: Baby monitor captures moment storm smashes bedroom window
A mother woke up to see Storm Ciaran blow through and smash her bedroom window with the moment captured on her baby monitor. Jessica O’Reilly was asleep at her home in St Clement, Jersey, when she was disturbed by powerful winds. Video captured on her baby monitor shows she began to stir before the storm caused her bedroom window to smash.
The footage appears to show Ms O’Reilly was cradling her baby with the bedside cot empty at the time of the incident. Jersey is among the worst hit areas after Storm Ciaran made landfall in the UK on Wednesday. Thirty-nine people on the island were moved to alternative accommodation after damage to property and three people have been taken to hospital.
Storm Ciaran pictures: Latest photographs as UK is battered by wind
Road closure put in place in Portsmouth
Trees have fallen on the road in Falmouth
Huge waves are seen in Porthleven, Cornwall this morning9:57AM[57]
Have you been affected by Storm Ciaran?
Sailings suspended from Port of Dover
Sailings from the Port of Dover have been suspended because of adverse weather.
Passengers have been urged to check with their ferry operator for updates throughout Thursday. Police at the Port of Dover have warned people to avoid the beach, pier and promenade for their own safety amid fears winds could reach 85mph.
Due to adverse weather from Storm Ciaran, all sailings are currently suspended from the Port of Dover. Passengers should follow @PoD_travelnews[59] and check with their chosen ferry operator for updates throughout the day.
— Port of Dover Travel (@PoD_travelnews) November 2, 2023[60]9:13AM[61]
Pictured: Latest photographs as Storm Ciaran batters southern England
Huge waves crash in Dawlish, Devon
Drivers make their way through floodwater near Bognor Regis in West Sussex
Residents make their way through floodwater in West Sussex9:06AM[62]
Postman rescued from Somerset flood
A postman was rescued from floodwater in Somerset after he became stranded in his car on Thursday.
The postman told BBC Radio Somerset he was stuck in Martock “for hours” until he was helped by flood warden Andrew Clegg. Mr Clegg said one road in the village had become a “river”.
Amber wind warnings across southern England
Two separate amber wind warnings across south west and south east England are in place sparking fears of structural damage to homes as well as disruption to trees and power lines. The Met Office warns flying debris could result in a “danger to life” and the closure of Roads, bridges and railway lines with winds in excess of 85mph.
The warning in south east England is until 12pm today, while in the south west the amber alert expires at 11am. In coastal areas, there are also fears of large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
?? Amber weather warning UPDATED ??
Warning now more focused for where the strongest winds associated with #StormCiaran[64] will be in the southeast Thursday 0600 – 1200 Latest info ? https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs[65]
Stay #WeatherAware ? pic.twitter.com/UhdH6UULTj[66][67]
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 2, 2023[68]8:40AM[69]
Tornado warning across southern England
A tornado alert is in place across southern England as strong winds brought by Storm Ciaran batter the country coastline. A spokesperson from the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation said: “A very deep Atlantic low, named Storm Ciaran by the UK Met Office, will cross southern parts of the UK later tonight (Wednesday) and on Thursday. “Very strong winds will affect parts of the south of the UK, along with the Channel Islands.
These strong ‘gradient winds’ are handled by warnings from the Met Office and the Channel Islands Met Service. “This outlook is concerned with the risk of one or two tornadoes from convection associated with the storm, especially on the cold front of the system. “Modest instability will overlap with very strong low-level shear across the area, starting over the South West of England this evening, and then progressing eastwards towards East Anglia early tomorrow morning.”
Pictures: Disruption on roads after Storm Ciaran hits
Photographs captured across southern England show the scale of disruption on roads after Storm Ciaran hit the UK on Wednesday night.
A road sign is submerged in floodwater near Bognor Regis, West Sussex
One man tackles a fallen tree on the A272 in Ansty, West Sussex
Vehicle overturns on the A20 in Kent8:06AM[71]
Devon: Residents woken by ‘biblical’ rain at 3am
Storm Ciaran caused high waves in Teignmouth, Devon, on Wednesday night
Residents in Devon say they were woken by “biblical” rain at 3am after heavy thunderstorms on Thursday morning.
Torrential rain and huge winds have caused disruptions on roads across the county with more than 200 school closures. One resident in Exeter said: “The rain was Biblical. It came down and down.
It was so intense and seemed to be worse than the downpours in mid September which led to flooding in places like Kenton, Dawlish and Totnes. It was 3am and the noise was like sitting next to a jet engine in a plane. I got up to check on my house and surrounding area because I thought there was bound to be damage or flooding.
“But three hours later and the rain has stopped and it is incredibly calm out there.” Flights at Exeter airport have been cancelled.
Storm Ciaran: How to stay safe when driving through flood water
It’s important to be able to judge the depth of the water – and be considerate of other drivers
Standing water after heavy downpours on already sodden ground is a major hazard to drivers[73] – and one that should not be underestimated, as Storm Ciaran sweeps Britain[74], reports Alex Robbins. We would ordinarily recommend against travelling in conditions during which the risk of becoming stranded is great, but every year many drivers have little choice but to venture out in storms and floods.
The vast majority of these journeys take place without incident, but wet roads increase the degree of risk. Wet roads mean that stopping distances increase, while deep – even deceptively shallow-looking – water poses a particular threat to road traffic. 7:55AM[76]
Cornwall: More than 8,000 homes without power
More than 8,000 homes across Cornwall have been left without power, it has been reported.
According to the BBC, there are 8,543 properties without working electricity as of 7am. More than 20 schools have also shut in the county as a result of Storm Ciaran. Cornish Councillor Martyn Alvey told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme some major roads have been blocked by fallen trees, while there is concern for coastal communities already hit by flooding.
High waves in Penzance7:48AM[77]
Jersey: Airport, schools and main roads shut
Islanders on Jersey are braced for the worst weather conditions in more than 36 years with main roads closed as well as schools and the airport, the BBC has reported.
Supermarkets across Jersey and Guernsey were emptied as residents stockpiled o supplies in preparation for the storm, which was predicted to be as bad as the Great Storm in 1987. The islands are both covered by “threat to life” red alerts with residents urged to stay at home on Thursday. Thirty-nine people on Jersey have been moved to alternative accommodation since the storm arrived last night amid reports roofs and doors have been damaged by winds.
One Jersey government official shared a photo of huge hailstones that landed in his garden following a thunderstorm.
Trampoline blows onto railway tracks
A trampoline has been removed from railway tracks in Hastings having blown off from a nearby garden. Rail operator Southeastern shared the image as it urged residents with trampolines to secure them. Southeastern, which runs key commuter services between London, Kent and East Sussex, has warned services are likely to be severely disrupted throughout Thursday as it urged passengers to avoid using mainline services before 9am.
The trampoline now arriving at Platform 4….
Our friends at @NetworkRailSE have just had to remove this from the track at Hastings. If you’ve a trampoline in your garden, please make sure it’s secure – it’s going to be very windy out there. pic.twitter.com/cTSTOJwn3h[79][80]
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) November 2, 2023[81]7:30AM[82]
Pictured: Commuters battle Storm Ciaran on way to work
Commuters in central London have been pictured battling windy conditions as they brave Storm Ciaran on their way to work. While London Underground services are running as normal, workers across southern England were warned not to travel to the capital on Thursday amid disruption to rail services.
Commuters attempt to shelter as they cross London Bridge
One woman appeared to struggle with her umbrella as she braved the weather7:25AM[83]
Ferries and flights cancelled
Ferries have been disrupted by Storm Ciaran
Flights and ferries across the UK have been cancelled as a result of Storm Ciaran with further disruption expected on the country’s roads and railways.
Channel Island airports in Guernsey and Alderney will remain closed on Thursday following severe winds. Some flights have also been cancelled at Southampton and Exeter airports. Six overnight crossings on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route have been cancelled by ferry company Wightlink after a major incident was declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Dorset Council has urged people to avoid coastal areas with the warning echoed by the RNLI. ‘This rough weather could make visiting our coasts around southern England and Wales treacherous and bring very dangerous sea conditions, ” said Ross Macleod from the RNLI. “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.”
Environment Agency issues 54 flood warnings
Storm Ciaran makes land fall in Exmouth, Devon
More than 50 flood warnings are in place as Storm Ciaran strikes the UK. Most of the 54 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency where flooding is expected are along the south coast, where a major incident has been declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A further 134 alerts are in place for possible flooding with fears for homes and businesses in Yorkshire and the North East.
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.”
Pictures: Roads flooded across London and southern England
Roads across London and southern England have been flooded as a result of heavy rain brought by Storm Ciaran. It comes after commuters were warned on Wednesday to stay at home on Thursday with widespread disruption to roads and railways expected.
A cyclist attempts to ride through deep surface water while walking along a pavement in Brent Cross
A cyclist rides through flash flooding on a road at Bournemouth
A car drives through flash floods in Dorset7:00AM[86]
39 people relocated from homes in Jersey
Police in Jersey have said 39 people and their eight pets have been moved to alternative accommodation following the arrival of Storm Ciaran. Three people have also been taken to hospital.
A red weather warning remains in place in the Channel Islands where 100mph winds have been recorded.
So far tonight 29 adults, 6 children and 7 pets have been relocated in hotel accommodation due to property damage.
4 people and a cat have relocated to another address and 3 people have been taken to A&E. Emergency Services are still out and about dealing with incidents.
— States of Jersey Police (@JerseyPolice) November 2, 2023[87]6:55AM[88]
Good morning
The Telegraph will be providing live updates on Storm Ciaran with a major incident declared in southern England. Powerful winds and rain are forecast to cause widespread disruption on Thursday morning as hundreds of schools remain closed.
The storm arrived in the UK on Wednesday and has already wreaked havoc in Jersey where dozens of residents were forced out of their homes to alternative accommodation.
For the latest updates follow our blog and the Telegraph website
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