Storm Henk: travel hell as trains cancelled, Dartford Crossing is closed, holiday parks are evacuated, the London Eye stops running and roofs and scaffolding are blown away as …

• Rail disruption on more than 20 lines due to flooding and signalling issues
• Met Office imposes rain and wind warnings in England and Wales until 9pm

By Mark Duell[1] and Matthew Lodge[2] and Sam Wright[3]

Published: 14:13, 2 January 2024 | Updated: 22:54, 2 January 2024

Londoners were urged to stay indoors today as Storm Henk hit Britain with 94mph gusts and two inches of rain after the Met Office[4] issued an urgent amber warning.

The storm, which was dramatically named by meteorologists just one hour before it hit at 10am this morning, will bring 'very wild outdoor conditions' until 8pm today. Mayor Sadiq Khan[5] has warned of a 'potential risk to life and property' in London[6].

Amid mass disruption to public transport, Southern Rail told passengers 'do not travel unless absolutely necessary' due to 'multiple weather related incidents'. South Western Railway also said 'do not travel' and that passengers were 'authorised to book their own taxi to travel anywhere' across its network before claiming a refund.

The London Fire Brigade told people in the capital to 'stay indoors where possible, but if you need to travel take extra care as strong winds can pick up flying debris'.

One of the capital's most iconic sights, the London Eye, was even forced to close due to the weather conditions.

Forecasters warned flying debris was 'likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life' amid possible 'damage to buildings such as tiles blown from roofs'. They also urged people to 'take care if you are travelling and avoid coasts where possible'.

Henk, which is the eighth storm to be named in just over three months, began to hit South West England and South Wales this morning. Parts of southern England, the south Midlands and East Anglia were then struck from this afternoon.

It comes as:

• Kew Gardens and Wakehurst both shut with tonight's Christmas at Kew axed;
• Trains on LNER, Northern, CrossCountry and GWR were disrupted by flooding;
• Commuters had a miserable return to work as other lines faced signal failures;
• A bridge roof at Okehampton station in Devon blew onto the GWR tracks today;
• More than 1,000 people were evacuated from a holiday park in Northampton;
• Motorists on several major roads including the M18 and M48 had severe delays;
• The Queen Elizabeth II bridge at the Dartford Crossing was closed to traffic;
• The Environment Agency issued 114 flood warnings and 261 alerts for England;
• A severe flood warning is out for Tenby plus 53 other alerts or warnings in Wales;
• Parts of Richmond Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park were closed;
• The London Fire Brigade urged people to secure outdoor decorations and bins;
• Nearly 2,000 properties in Cornwall lost power and more outages could follow;
• Firefighters in Berkshire told drivers: 'Please don't make unnecessary journeys';
• Temperatures could reach 13C (55F) but it will feel chillier in the wind and rain.

The Met Office said gusts of up to 80mph are likely on exposed coasts in the west, while inland areas could see 70mph winds. The amber warning runs across England from Cornwall in the west to Norfolk in the east, covering a distance of 400 miles. Yellow rain and wind warnings were also imposed across a bigger area until 9pm.

In Warwickshire, firefighters used an inflatable craft to rescue people from a car stuck in floodwater at a ford in Kenilworth early this morning.

Over in Leicestershire, police received 'a lot of reports' of crashes and broken down cars due to flooding.

Top wind speeds of 94mph at Needles on the Isle of Wight, 81mph at Exeter in Devon and 77mph at Newquay in Cornwall were recorded today - as cancellations to public transport meant Britons endured a miserable post-Christmas return to the office.

Rail commuters faced disruption on more than 20 different lines due to downpours, track faults and signalling issues - while several major roads had severe delays.

National Highways confirmed it had stopped traffic using the Queen Elizabeth II[7] Bridge over the Dartford Crossing due to 'excessively strong winds', with motorists being redirected through one of the tunnels. This caused has caused delays of at least two hours.

Several London Underground[8] and Overground lines faced disruption while the Elizabeth Line was suspended between London Paddington, Reading and Heathrow[9] due to a power supply issue - with passengers reporting being stuck on trains.

Scaffolding blown over by Storm Henk in Sutton, South London, this afternoon

A tree blown over by the wind that crashed into a portico in Tooting, South West London, today

Flooding at Billing Aquadrome, Northamptonshire, where 1,000 people were evacuated today

The Met Office has three warnings in place today: yellow for rain and wind, and amber for wind

10AM TODAY: Storm Henk began by striking areas of South West England this morning

12PM TODAY: Storm Henk moved from the South West towards the East around midday

4PM TODAY: Storm Henk swept across Britain and hit eastern areas of England this afternoon

Scaffolding blown over by Storm Henk in Sutton, South London, this afternoon

Trains have been cancelled from Grove Park station in south east London to Bromley North after part of the roof fell onto the tracks

A sign outside the south east London station informing passengers it has been closed

The bridge roof at Okehampton station in Devon on the GWR line blew onto the tracks today

And nearly 400 areas in England remained on flood watch this morning, with 114 warnings and 261 alerts imposed by the Environment Agency across the country.

In Northampton, more than 1,000 holidaymakers and residents were evacuated from a holiday park this afternoon amid fears the heavy rain could cause flash flooding.

Families left their caravans in Billing Aquadrome in the Nene Valley after the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area. Water has not yet reached the homes but officials said they expected the area to be flooded imminently.

Many people were seen driving and walking away from the caravans with their belongings.

Holidaymaker Linda Page said today: 'It's terrible, the flood warning siren reminds me of the noise of the air raid sirens in the Second World War.'

Speaking about the storm being named, Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen, said: 'Further wet and windy weather is forecast for the UK this week.

'Our latest analysis of the forecast shows an increase in the likelihood of very strong wind gusts across parts of southern Wales and England which is why we have issued this amber warning this morning and named Storm Henk.

'Storm Henk will initially bring very strong winds to the southwest of England and Southern Wales, with gusts of up to 80mph possible.

A car lies partially submerged on the A272 at Petersfield in Hampshire this afternoon

Difficult driving conditions in today's rain on the A102(M) in Greenwich, South East London

Flooding at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire today as the severe weather continues

Large waves whipped up by strong winds batter the sea defences at West Bay in Dorset today

A person wears a rain poncho amid the severe weather at Primrose Hill in North London today

A person looks out towards waves crashing into the shore at Newhaven in East Sussex today

Gina and Tj walk in the floodwater in Worcester today after the River Severn burst its banks

A man braves the wind and rain to walk his dog at Mudeford Quay in Dorset this morning

Large waves whipped up by winds batter the Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset today

The Irish Ferries Isle of Innisfree leaves the Port of Dover in Kent today as conditions worsen

Walkers watching the large waves at the Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset today

People play in the wind on the beach as waves smash into Newhaven in East Sussex today

Flooding at Billing Aquadrome, Northamptonshire, where 1,000 people were evacuated today

Drivers face difficult driving conditions on the A20 near Dover in Kent this afternoon

A tree blown over by the wind that crashed into a portico in Tooting, South West London, today

A pedestrian wades through floodwater in Essex this morning as Storm Henk sweeps in

'As Storm Henk moves north-eastwards across the south of the UK through Tuesday the strongest winds will also move eastwards, across the south Midlands, Home Counties and East Anglia through the afternoon and evening.'

Met Office warnings in place for Britain today

• Yellow rain warning - 5pm yesterday until 9pm today
• Yellow wind warning - 8am today until 9pm today
• Amber wind warning - 10am today until 8pm today

Advertisement

The Met Office warned on X of 'very wild outdoor conditions, plus hazardous conditions on beaches, coasts and cliffs'.

And Mr Khan tweeted: 'Storm Henk will bring very strong winds and heavy rain across London today, with a potential risk to life and property. Follow the Met Office for advice and further information.'

The London Fire Brigade also issued a warning, saying that the strongest winds would hit between 3pm and 6pm.

It told people to 'secure loose objects outside home, like decorations, bins or furniture'; 'check your journey before travelling'; 'don't shelter under trees' and 'watch out for debris when driving'.

Kew Gardens in South West London said the site would close at 2pm this afternoon and the Christmas at Kew attraction was cancelled this evening due to the weather. Wakehurst, the botanic garden in Sussex, added that it was also shut this afternoon.

Elsewhere, the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service told motorists to 'take care when driving in inclement weather' and 'please don't make unnecessary journeys'.

Huntingdon racecourse in Cambridgeshire today after the Alconbury Brook burst its banks

Beachcombers collect debris on the beach at Newhaven in East Sussex today

Members of the Salty Sea Dogs swimming group at Avon Beach in Christchurch, Dorset, today

Flooding around the town of Upton on Severn in Worcestershire this afternoon

Vehicles make their way along flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

Flooding at Billing Aquadrome, Northamptonshire, where 1,000 people were evacuated today

People walk in the rain in York today after the Met Office issued a series of weather warnings

A boat came free of its moorings at Sandbanks today after strong winds hit the Dorset coast

Flooding in Worcester this morning as swans take over the streets near the riverfront

Commuters cross London Bridge as they head back to work today after the Christmas break

Flooding at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire today as the severe weather continues

People walk through the heavy rain outside Reading train station in Berkshire today

Walkers watching the large waves at the Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset today

Firefighters rescue people from a car stuck in floodwater in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, today

Firefighters responded after the car became stuck in floodwater at a ford in Kenilworth today

The inflatable craft was required to rescue those stuck in the car in Kenilworth today

Royal Parks confirmed parts of three of its parks in London would shut, including:

Rail disruption in the UK on January 2, 2024

• LNER and Northern: Heavy rain flooding the railway in the Leeds area
• Southeastern: Fault with the signalling system at Dartford
• CrossCountry and Great Western Railway: Heavy rain flooding the railway between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth
• CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway: Flooding between Derby and Long Eaton
• Northern: Delays between Rochdale and Blackburn due to a points failure
• CrossCountry and South Western Railway: Urgent repairs to the track between Bournemouth and Southampton Central
• Southeastern: Fire next to the track at New Cross
• Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales: Heavy rain flooding the railway between Swansea and Carmarthen
• Greater Anglia: Fault with the signalling system between Chelmsford and Ingatestone
• Transport for Wales: Flooding between Saundersfoot and Manorbier
• Southeastern: Police incident near the railway at Rochester
• Great Western Railway: Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway
• Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway: Fault on a train at London Euston
• Great Western Railway: Heavy rain floods the railway between Crediton and Barnstaple
• ScotRail: Obstruction on track in Dyce is blocking line between Inverness and Aberdeen
• Southern: Trains between Barnham and Horsham running at reduced speed due to reports of high water levels on the track
• Great Western Railway : Bridge roof is blown onto tracks at Okehampton
• Transport for Wales: Reduced service between Coryton and Radyr due to 'more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time'
• Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink: Delays after a person was hit by a train between Gatwick Airport and Purley
• Southern and London Overground: Fault with the signalling system at Queens Road Peckham
• London Overground: Fault with the signalling system between Willesden Junction and Richmond
• Elizabeth line: Suspended between London Paddington, Reading and Heathrow due to a power supply issue
• District Line: No service between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a signal failure at Richmond
• Northern Line: No service between Stockwell and Morden due to a fire alert at Balham.

  Severe delays in other parts of the line

• Bakerloo line: Delays between Harrow & Wealdstone and Queen's Park due to signal system failure
• Circle line: Delays due to train cancellations
• Central line: Delays due to shortage of trains
• Docklands Light Railway: Delays between Bank / Tower Gateway and Canning Town / Canary Wharf due to a faulty train at Westferry

Advertisement

• The Isabella Plantation and Pembroke Lodge Gardens at Richmond Park from 1pm;
• The South Flower Walk and both Buck Hill and Diana Memorial playgrounds at Kensington Gardens from midday; and
• The Flower Garden, Rose Garden, Playground and Royal Observatory Garden at Greenwich Park from midday.

Other parks closing across London this afternoon included Highgate Wood, Queen's Park, West Ham Park, The Hill Garden and Pergola at Golders Hill Park.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said all parks and cemeteries had been closed in the borough.

In Cornwall, the BBC reported that 1,818 properties across the county were without power as of midday today.

Forecasters added that it would also be windy in the very far northeast of the UK with some snowfall over Shetland today.

Looking further ahead, the weather across the UK is expected to remain unsettled through this week with westerly Atlantic conditions dominating.

But the Met Office added that through this weekend and into next week there are 'early signs of higher pressure developing which would settle the weather down and bring a spell of lower temperatures'.

The Met Office faced criticism on social media for announcing Henk so late, given that storms are often named days in advance. One X user said: 'Aren't you supposed to forecast ahead of time, rather than when things are already happening?'

But Met Office meteorologist Jamie Driver replied, saying: 'The warning comes into force at 10am and was issued at 8.56am so was forecast ahead of time. Also the strongest winds aren't anticipated to reach the eastern end of the warning area until this evening.

There was great uncertainty in model runs up to a short lead time.'

Passengers on LNER and Northern faced delays due to heavy rain flooding the line in the Leeds area, while downpours also deluged the railway between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth which impacted CrossCountry and Great Western Railway services.

In addition, CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway were affected by flooding between Derby and Long Eaton.

Among those affected by the rail disruption was Leanne Coyle from West Yorkshire, who tweeted today: 'All three of the local stations I can use to connect to Leeds have cancelled their early departures, and someone has blocked my car in so a 40 minute bus ride is now required. Not a very Happy New Year for commuting so far!'

The family legal adviser later added: 'Got off train to an emergency evacuation announcement at Manchester Victoria. Nobody really listening or enforcing this.'

And commuter Joshua Chapman from Keighley tweeted: 'Nothing screams first day at work in 2024 than having to get the bus and be late because all the trains are cancelled.

Won two wars and conquered half the planet, but can't deal with a bit of rain.'

Wendy Burn, a consultant old age psychiatrist from Leeds, said: 'Second day in new job with no parking and the trains are all cancelled.'

GWR reported flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway and between Crediton and Barnstaple, while Transport for Wales services were still being affected by chaos caused by Storm Gerrit last week.

GWR also had cancellations to services through Okehampton after the roof of the bridge at the station was blown onto the tracks.

And there were delays on Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink after a person was hit by a train between Gatwick Airport and Purley.

Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales said heavy rain flooding the railway between Swansea and Carmarthen meant all lines between both stations were blocked.

Vehicles make their way along flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

Flooding at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire today as the severe weather continues

Drivers face difficult driving conditions on the A20 near Dover in Kent this afternoon

A pedestrian uses a umbrella during heavy rain and strong winds on Westminster Bridge today

Flooded fields at Axminster in Devon this afternoon after the River Axe burst its banks

A man walks by flooded roads in Worcester this morning following heavy rain

A woman's umbrella is damaged during heavy rain on Westminster Bridge this morning

People play in the wind on the beach as waves smash into Newhaven in East Sussex today

Swans in Worcester this morning after the River Severn burst its banks causing major flooding

People walk through the heavy rain outside Reading train station in Berkshire today

Drivers face difficult driving conditions on the A20 near Dover in Kent this afternoon

The River Trent overflowing in Colton, Staffordshire, today amid the severe conditions

Large waves whipped up by winds batter the Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset today

A vehicle is driven through standing water close to the flooded Worcester Racecourse today

Drivers face difficult driving conditions on the A20 near Dover in Kent this afternoon

A bench on the edge of the River Severn is almost fully submerged in Worcester today

A flooded Worcester Racecourse is pictured today as heavy rain continues to fall in the area

Separately, flooding between Saundersfoot and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire also blocked the line to and from Pembroke Dock.

Severe delays on roads on January 2, 2024

M18: Disruption near Doncaster in South Yorkshire at junction two due to flooding and a crash which saw two lanes closed and delays of 40 minutes

A30: Eastbound between the junctions with the A386 and the A382 near Okehampton in Devon has one lane closed due to flooding

M48: Motorway near Bristol has two lanes closed westbound at junction J1 due to 'road management'

A1: Southbound between the junctions with the A607 and the A151 near Grantham in Lincolnshire has delays due to congestion

Advertisement

Transport for Wales also warned of a reduced service between Coryton and Radyr due to 'more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time'.

In Scotland, an obstruction on the track in the Dyce area of Aberdeenshire was blocking the line between Inverness and Aberdeen.

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway warned of a fault on a train at London Euston this morning.

Southeastern had disruption due to a signalling fault at Dartford, a fire next to the track at New Cross and a police incident at Rochester. It also warned of speed restrictions on coastal routes this afternoon due to the high winds.

Southern said trains between Barnham and Horsham were running at reduced speed through the Christ's Hospital and Billingshurst area due to reports of high water levels on the track.

South Western Railway warned of urgent track repairs between Bournemouth and Southampton; and Northern had delays between Rochdale and Blackburn due to a points failure.

Greater Anglia passengers faced major disruption due to a fault with the signalling system between Chelmsford and Ingatestone in Essex which blocked all lines and meant a replacement bus service had to run between Colchester, Chelmsford and Shenfield.

No trains were able to operate between London Liverpool Street and Braintree, Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich.

London Overground[10] had delays due to signalling problems between Willesden Junction and Richmond, and between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction.

A swan passes a rubbish bin today after the River Severn burst its banks in Worcester

People walk through the heavy rain outside Reading train station in Berkshire today

A flood warning sign at Temple Hirst near Selby in North Yorkshire this morning

A man's umbrella is blown inside out this morning during heavy rain on Westminster Bridge

A flooded Worcester Racecourse is pictured today as heavy rain continues to fall in the area

A van drives through a flooded road at Temple Hirst near Selby in North Yorkshire this morning

New Road, home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, is flooded as rain continues today

A man's umbrella is damaged during heavy rain on Westminster Bridge this morning

New Road, home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, is flooded as rain continues today

People walk through the heavy rain outside Reading train station in Berkshire today

A flooded Worcester Racecourse is pictured today as heavy rain continues to fall in the area

Flooding surrounds the Severn View public house as heavy rain continues in Worcester today

Swans in Worcester this morning after the River Severn burst its banks causing major flooding

A flooded Worcester Racecourse today as heavy rain continues to fall in the area

Underground commuters also faced disruption on the Bakerloo line due to signal failure; on the Circle line due to train cancellations; and on the Central line due to a shortage of trains.

The District line had no service between Turnham Green and Richmond due to a signal failure at Richmond, while the Northern line had no service between Stockwell and Morden due to a fire alert at Balham.

There were also delays on the Docklands Light Railway between Bank and Tower Gateway, and Canning Town and Canary Wharf due to a faulty train at Westferry.

There were also severe delays on several major roads, with National Highways reporting disruption on the M18 near Doncaster in South Yorkshire at junction two due to flooding and a crash which saw two lanes closed and delays of up to 40 minutes.

Elsewhere, the A30 eastbound between the junctions with the A386 and the A382 near Okehampton in Devon also had one lane closed due to flooding.

The M48 near Bristol had two lanes shut westbound at junction J1 due to 'road management'. And the A1 southbound between the junctions with the A607 and the A151 near Grantham in Lincolnshire also had delays due to congestion.

New Road, home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, is flooded as rain continues today

Swans in Worcester this morning after the River Severn burst its banks causing major flooding

Flooding in Worcester this morning after the River Severn bursts its banks

Commuters attempt to shelter from the rain at Maze Hill station in South East London today

Swans in Worcester this morning after the River Severn burst its banks causing major flooding

Vehicles make their way along flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

New Road, home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, is flooded as rain continues today

A wet morning in the capital today as commuters cross London Bridge on their way to work

People walk over the Sabrina Bridge and a swollen River Severn in Worcester today

Vehicles make their way along flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

Flooding in Worcester this morning as swans take over the streets near the riverfront

Commuters take cover from the rain in the London Bridge area today as they return to work

Commuters cross London Bridge as they head back to work today after the Christmas break

A murky morning on London Bridge today as people go to work in the capital today

It comes as forecasters warned of a 'widely wet' start to the new year for many areas as rainfall is set to drench some regions today.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and wind for large parts of England and Wales today.

It said some travel disruption is likely as the heavy rain is set to fall on ground that is already saturated as it comes after recent wet weather.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: 'At the moment it does look like a lot of that rain will push across the vast majority of England and Wales, turning widely wet once again throughout Tuesday.'

The Environment Agency has hundreds of flood warnings (in red) and alerts (in amber) today

He added: 'Parts of south-eastern, eastern Scotland should hold on to some slightly brighter periods for the bank holiday but it is going to be very wet and windy once again for the Northern Isles, Orkney and Shetland.'

There will also be a north-south contrast in temperatures ranging from between 8C (46F) to 13C (55F) but it will feel chillier in the wind and rain.

A yellow weather warning for rain states: 'Over the warning period, 15mm to 30mm rain is likely to fall fairly widely, with a few places seeing 35mm to 50mm.

'The worst of the rain should clear southwestern areas of England and South Wales by around the middle of Tuesday but could last into the evening across the north-east of the warning area.

Strong winds will affect parts of the area.'

Gusts could hit 60mph to 70mph in coastal areas or 40mph to 50mph elsewhere, according to the yellow weather warning for wind.

It says 'very windy conditions are likely to quickly develop' over South West England and southern Wales this morning and then spread eastwards across southern and some central parts of England.

It adds: 'In coastal areas winds are likely to gust towards 60mph at times, with a lower likelihood of 70mph gusts.

'Inland gusts of 40 to 50mph are likely but with a smaller chance of 55 to 60mph gusts, although the extent of such gusts carries low confidence at present.'

Tomorrow morning will be unsettled across Wales and South West England as heavy showers build then persist into the afternoon with some heavy spells of rain.

There will be strong winds in the South West and light rain in eastern Scotland with lots of mist and fog.

It will be mostly dry but cloudy elsewhere.

Thursday will bring some fine spells in the South, with scattered showers building later that will bring some heavy spells of rain.

Then, high pressure will begin to build on Friday and northern areas will be dry but mostly cloudy while some lingering rain will sit across central England.

References

1. ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Matthew Lodge (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Sam Wright (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Sadiq Khan (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ Queen Elizabeth II (www.dailymail.co.uk)
8. ^ London Underground (www.dailymail.co.uk)
9. ^ Heathrow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
10. ^ London Overground (www.dailymail.co.uk)