Storm Ciaran Sweeps UK’s South Coast with Dire Flood Warnings in Effect
The UK’s south coast is bracing for intense flooding as Storm Ciaran unleashes robust winds and torrential rainfall. The Channel Islands anticipate wind gusts reaching a staggering 152km/h, while southern England faces the brunt of the storm.
The Environment Agency has disseminated 54 Flood Warnings predominantly for England’s south coast, supplemented by an additional 134 alerts highlighting potential flood zones. Ben Lukey, the agency’s flood duty manager, voiced concerns over “noteworthy flooding along the southern shoreline and parts of Yorkshire and the northeast due to Ciaran’s forceful onshore gales.”
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s Local Resilience Forum escalated matters by announcing a major incident, cautioning against potential fatalities, property damages, toppling trees, and widespread flooding.
Meteorological authorities sounded an amber warning across the southern coast, forecasting winds surging up to 128km/h. Jersey, in particular, saw a red wind alert, the most severe, advising against any outdoor activities given the nearly 160km/h gusts. Meanwhile, France’s western Brittany region recorded a staggering 177km/h wind speed overnight.
Air traffic from Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney was suspended for the day. Southern Rail encouraged commuters in the affected regions to opt for remote work while they manage obstructions like fallen trees and track debris.
Already grappling with the storm’s impact, Northern Ireland witnessed widespread flooding. Emergency services rolled out approximately 12,000 sandbags in the hardest-hit zones. Tragically, Newry city experienced extensive damage to nearly 80 businesses when its canal overflowed.
Transportation was thrown into disarray in counties like Down, Antrim, and Armagh as roads and rail services faced disruptions from escalating floodwaters.
Simultaneously, Europe’s German Weather Service (DWD) highlighted concerns for the North and Baltic Sea coasts due to Storm Ciaran’s trajectory. The storm, currently progressing from the English Channel towards the North Sea, is anticipated to produce winds around 90km/h.