Storm Ciarán: More than 260 flood warnings and alerts across UK - see your area
Storm Ciaran has arrived, bringing destruction in its wake including roofs ripped off houses, damaged cars- and smashed windows.
A major incident has been declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as the bad weather brings winds of up to 100mph and heavy rain.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and alerts across much of the country, including dozens along the south coast.
As of midday on Thursday there are 78 flood warnings - where flooding is expected - and 189 flood alerts - where flooding is possible.
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.”
The major incident was declared by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum, with the local fire service warning there was a “potential risk to life” as well as a risk of damage to buildings, falling trees, and flooding.
Across the south coast, an amber warning runs from 6am to 5pm on Thursday with winds expected to reach 70mph to 80mph, with the potential for 85mph and large waves.
A further amber warning is in place until 11am in Cornwall and Devon, with the Met Office predicting Storm Ciaran will bring winds of 75mph to 85mph, with 65mph to 75mph gusts inland.
A red wind warning, the highest level, was issued by Jersey Met into Thursday with people warned to avoid outside activity due to predicted gusts of almost 100mph. The French coast saw winds of up to 110mph in western Brittany overnight.
All flights from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney airports on Thursday have been cancelled.
Commuters in southern England were urged to work from home by Southern Rail, with Southeastern “strongly advising” passengers not to travel on routes in and out of London before 9am on Thursday as they assess any fallen trees and debris on the line.
Other operators were warning of delays and cancellations.
A spokesperson on behalf of train operators said: “Our colleagues will be working extremely hard over the coming days to keep passengers on the move but also to keep them safe during this bad weather.
“We will be working closely with Network Rail to understand the impact on the rail network, and we are encouraging passengers to check their journey before travelling.”
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Brent Walker said: “Very strong winds are expected along southern coastal areas of England in particular, where gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible, perhaps exceeding 85 mph in a few exposed locations. Further inland, gusts could reach up to 50 or 60mph.
“As well as strong winds, there will be heavy rain across many parts of the UK.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) urged people watching the conditions to stay away from the coast.
RNLI water safety manager Ross Macleod said: ‘This rough weather could make visiting our coasts around southern England and Wales treacherous and bring very dangerous sea conditions.
“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.”
Northern Ireland has already seen flooding, where a yellow rain warning from the Met Office was in place until 9am on Wednesday.
A similar notice was issued for southern parts of England and Wales from 6pm on Wednesday until the end of Thursday.
A yellow warning for rain is also in place from 6am on Thursday to 6am on Friday for north-east England and Scotland, stretching up to Inverness.
List of flood warnings
Amberley on the River Arun, West Sussex
Arundel on the River Arun, West Sussex
Beaulieu, Hampshire
Bersted on the Aldingbourne Rife, West Sussex
Bumpstead Brook through Steeple Bumpstead to New England, Suffolk
Calshot, Hythe, Marchwood, Eling and Redbridge, Hampshire
Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane, Perth and Kinross
Christchurch Harbour Side, Dorset
Climping, West Sussex
Cowes, East Cowes, and Newport, Isle of Wight
Creyke, Mill and Broadlane Becks at Cottingham, East Yorkshire
Dorset coast at Chiswell
Dorset coast at Preston Beach
Dorset coast at Swanage Bay
Felpham on the Aldingbourne Rife, West Sussex
Fittleworth on the Western Rother, West Sussex
Hamble estuary, Hampshire
Itchen estuary, Hampshire
Landford to Wade Bridge on the River Blackwater, Hampshire
Luce Bay, Wigtownshire
Low Barlings and the Short Ferry area, Lincolnshire
Mansbridge and Woodmill on the River Itchen, Hampshire
North Sea at Roker, Sunderland
Poole Harbour at Wareham, Dorset
Poole Harbour at West Quay and Lower Hamworthy Quay, Dorset
Portland Harbour at Ferry Bridge, Dorset
River Avon from Didworthy to Aveton Gifford, Devon
River Axe (Lower) from Axminster to Axmouth, Devon
River Axe (Mid) at Axminster, Devon
River Axe (Upper) from Winsham to Axminster, including Chard Junction and Weycroft, Devon
River Brit at Netherbury, Dorset
River Brit at Newtown, and Southgate Old Mill, Beaminster, Dorset
River Brit at Pymore Island and Queenwell, Pymore, Dorset
River Brit at Riverside and George Street, West Bay, Dorset
River Brit at Skilling Playing Fields and West Bay Road Nursery, Dorset
River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge, low lying properties, Somerset
River Clyst from Broadclyst to Clyst St. Mary, Devon
River Culm (Upper) from Hemyock to Cullompton, Devon
River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill, North Yorkshire
River Derwent at Stamford Bridge - The Weir Caravan Park and Kexby Bridge, North Yorkshire
River Harbourne at Crowdy Mill, Beenleigh, Bow and Tuckenhay, Devon
River Isle at Ilminster, Somerset
River Isle from Chard Reservoir to Hambridge not including Ilminster, Somerset
River Otter (Lower) from Salston to Budleigh Salterton, Devon
River Ouse at York - riverside properties
River Parrett (upper) at Thorney and Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset
River Parrett (upper) from South Perrott to Thorney, Dorset and Somerset
River Plym from Shaugh Bridge to Riverside Caravan Park, Devon
River Ritec at Tenby, Pembrokeshire
River Teign (Lower) from Chudleigh to Kingsteignton, Devon
River Witham and associated Fens from Washingborough to Metheringham, Lincolnshire
River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster, Devon
River Yeo from Sherborne to Yeovil, Dorset and Somerset
Rushington and Eling on the Bartley Water, Hampshire
Sandown, Brading and Bembridge on the Eastern Yar, Isle of Wight
Somerset coast at Porlock Weir
South Cornwall coast at Mounts Bay, seafront properties
South Cornwall Coast from Gribbin Head to Rame Head
South Cornwall coast from Lands End to Lizard Point excluding Mounts Bay
South Cornwall coast from Lizard Point to Gribbin Head excluding Truro City
South Cornwall Coast from Rame Head to Wembury Bay including tidal estuaries
South Hayling and South Eastoke seafront, Hampshire
Upper Frome at Maiden Newton, Dorset
Upper Frome from Maiden Newton to Dorchester, Dorset
West Bay East Beach, Dorset
West Bay Harbour and Esplanade, Dorset
West Dean to Dunbridge on the River Dun, Hampshire
Whitwell, Wroxall, Langbridge, Alverstone on the Eastern Yar, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight