Storm Eunice: BBC Weather warns of further windy conditions

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

At least four people died as a result of Storm Eunice’s record breaking wind gusts on Friday. The Met Office said a wind speed of up to 122mph was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight on Friday, provisionally the highest ever in England.

Around 1.1million properties suffered power cuts from Eunice, with 435,000 still cut off as of Friday night, according to the Energy Networks Association.

In Cornwall, 14,000 homes were left without power, as were 9,000 in Wales, 5,000 in Surrey and 4,000 in the Midlands.

On Friday night, Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, warned that “there will be more disruption to come”.

He said helicopters and generators had been deployed to help people cope with the aftermath.

Train services and other public transport have continued to warn Britons not to travel despite the winds dying down on Saturday.

Throughout Friday, every train line in South East London was blocked by trees as Eunice battered the capital and all services to Kent were cancelled.

On Saturday morning, Network Rail said: “We’re working to open the network fully, as our empty “route proving” trains run at slow speeds to check tracks and find more Storm Eunice debris.

“Chainsaw teams are limited now (0730) as they all worked yesterday, but they will be working through the debris today

“We strongly advise passengers to check before they travel as many routes are blocked and trains are all out of position following yesterday’s disruption.”

Southern Rail advised all passengers to not travel “on the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern networks” on Saturday.

They said in a update on their website: “DO NOT TRAVEL on the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern networks today, many parts of our network have no service.

“Other transport operators will also be disrupted, and many others are also advising you not to travel.”

A speed restriction of 50 mph will also be in place across the network with no guarantees of rail replacement services.

Three people in England and one in Ireland have died from Storm Eunice.

A man in his 20s died after a collision between a car he was travelling in and a tree in Alton, Hampshire. One man is in hospital with “serious injuries”.

A woman in her 30s has died after a tree fell on a car in Haringey, north London, on Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan police said.

Merseyside police said a man in his 50s died in Netherton, Merseyside, after debris struck the windscreen of a vehicle he was travelling in.

Earlier, a council worker in his 60s was killed by a falling tree while clearing storm debris in County Wexford, Ireland.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Government officials on Friday night expressed relief that the early phase of the storm had not lived up to the worst-case scenario for coastal flooding.

Warnings were issued to areas along the River Severn, with residents warned they could have to evacuate, but these areas did not suffer a storm surge.

One official said: “Of the nine severe flood warnings, all have been downgraded.

“We still have around 50 flood warnings and some flood alerts. The Environment Agency is still warning the public to be very careful and stay away from the coast.”

Insurers also told MailOnline they were swamped with calls from clients wanting to report damage to their property from Eunice.

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers told the outlet it was “too early” to know the exact cost of the damage.

They then added: “The last significant storms to hit the UK – Ciara and Dennis – led to insurers paying out over £360million.”

Counting just wind damage, Ciara and Dennis, which struck in February 2020, led to 61,000 domestic property claims, totalling £77million.

It also saw 9,000 commercial property claims, totalling £61million and 3,500 motor claims, coming to £11million.

Ciara and Dennis, considered weaker than Eunice, caused around £149million in damage.

The Met Office described Eunice as the worst since the Burn’s Day storm 32 years ago in which 47 people died.

Before Friday, the strongest gust recorded in England was 118mph at Gwennap Head in Cornwall on 15 December 1979.

As well as the 122mph gust on the Isle of Wight, there were blasts of 70-80mph widely across southern Britain.

Source: Read Full Article