Storm Ciarán news live: Weather warning in place as 42 flood warnings issued for washout bonfire weekend

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Saturday as 42 flood warnings remain in place as downpours are expected to hamper down ahead of bonfire night.

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place across the South coast with a few in the East of England and several scattered around North Yorkshire as rivers reach their limit.

Thunderstorms are likely to catch in the southeast as up to 30-40mm are expected in the coastal regions.

The Met Office said: “A spell of heavy rain early in the day clears northwards but is followed by fairly frequent heavy and blustery showers.”

It comes as at least 12 people have died across Europe as Storm Ciarán unleashed chaos and widespread flooding, while thousands of homes in the UK are still without power.

Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power in the height of the storm, and by 4pm on Thursday, around 11,300 properties still had no electricity.

Have you been affected by Storm Ciarán? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk

Key Points

• Dozens of flood warnings in England as UK reels under after-effects of Storm Ciarán

• Amber weather warnings issued across England and Wales

• Tornado watch warning issued

• British Airways grounds 30+ Heathrow flights

15:36 , Matt Mathers

We’re wrapping up our coverage of Storm Ciaran.

Tune in again soon for all the latest weather updates.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your evening.

Motorists urged: ‘Avoid coasts and rural roads where there’s a greater chance of falling branches and trees'

Thursday 2 November 2023 19:45 , Athena Stavrou

Motorists have been warned to avoid coasts and rural roads following reports of falling trees.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Sticking to major routes, away from coasts and rural roads where there’s a greater chance of falling branches and trees, is a good policy.

“Drivers should keep a firm grip of the steering w heel and take particular care when passing high-sided vehicles, which can cause an unnerving buffeting effect that some people may not be familiar with.”

He added: “While there’s a chance roads may be busier in the event of public transport disruption, we’d still advise anyone not confident driving in these sorts of conditions to consider delaying their journeys until Ciarán moves away later in the week.”

Watch: Journalist pushed over by strong winds during live Storm Ciarán report from Jersey

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:15 , Athena Stavrou

A Sky News journalist was pushed over by strong winds during a live report from Jersey on Thursday 2 November.

Ashna Hurynag was on the scene in Saint Helier covering Storm Ciarán, beginning her report by saying she had “never felt windspeeds like this”.

She continued to battle the adverse weather conditions but shortly after, Ms Hurynag was pushed over by the winds.

“We are sheltering away from the seafront... but even having said that, you can see the way the wind has just pushed me over,” the reporter said, quickly regaining her composure.

Journalist pushed over by strong winds during live Storm Ciarán report from Jersey

UK saw over a third more rain than average this month

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:45 , Athena Stavrou

Northern Ireland had its fifth wettest October on record with 191.8mm being 68% more than its average. England had its eighth wettest on record with 147.2mm of rain, which is 63% more than average.

In addition to some counties in the east of Scotland, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and the Isle of Wight also provisionally had their respective wettest October on record. In Northern Ireland, counties Armagh and Down also had their wettest October.

The UK saw over a third more rain than average with 171.5mm in what was provisionally the joint-sixth wettest October on record, the Met Office has said.

Tornado watch warning issued

Thursday 2 November 2023 21:15 , Athena Stavrou

One or two tornados could hit the UK as it is battered by strong winds and heavy rain, according to the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO).

“The highest risk of one or two tornadoes would likely be along and south of a line from S Wales to London, but the risk cannot be ruled out a bit further north too,” it said.

Watch - Bus has front window blown out by Storm Ciarán winds

Thursday 2 November 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick

Bus has front window blown out by Storm Ciarán winds

Floods minister releases statement

Thursday 2 November 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick

Floods Minister 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. Environment Agency teams are on the ground operating assets, clearing rivers and debris from falling trees and working with partners to support residents in communities at risk or recently affected by flooding.

“We have activated our Emergency Operations Centre, and are supporting the Cabinet Office to coordinate the government response.”

Watch - The weekend’s weather forecast

Friday 3 November 2023 00:00 , Lydia Patrick

Storm Ciarán batters UK as roofs torn off homes and cars smashed by ‘golf-ball-sized hailstones’

Friday 3 November 2023 01:00 , Lydia Patrick

Roofs were torn off homes and “golfball-sized hailstones” hit as Storm Ciarán battered southwest England, bringing travel chaos, school closures and leaving thousands of homes without power.

As winds of up to 104mph swept across the UK, the Channel Islands were particularly badly affected by the severe thunderstorm, which is thought to be the worst to hit the small island of Jersey since 1987.

Residents on the island endured a “terrifying” night as dozens were forced to flee their homes, while a tornado warning was issued by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) from south Wales to London, as winds and heavy rain brought havoc.

Hundreds of schools were closed in the south of England because of the risk to pupils, after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds that were “strong and potentially disruptive” in the southwest, Wales, London, the southeast and the east of England.

Storm Ciarán batters UK with roofs torn off homes and cars crushed by fallen trees

New record set for lowest mean sea level in England and Wales

Friday 3 November 2023 02:00 , Lydia Patrick

Shocking moment a man is floored by giant wave

Friday 3 November 2023 03:00 , Lydia Patrick

A man on Dover beach toppled to the floor after a gigantic wave floored him.

That had to hurt.

Seven people killed and several injured in Europe

Friday 3 November 2023 03:27 , Shweta Sharma

Seven people were killed and several were injured after storm Ciarán slammed north-west Europe with heavy rains and strong winds.

A truck driver was killed in the Aisne département of northern France after a tree fell on him, authorities said.

A second death was reported in Le Havre, according to authorities. A 70-year-old man died after falling off his balcony in an accident that police linked to the storm’s powerful winds.

Falling trees led to the death of a woman in the Spanish capital Madrid and another in the south of the Netherlands, local emergency services and police said.

Two people died in the Belgian town of Ghent, including a five-year-old and a 64-year-old German woman visiting the country, the prosecutor’s office said. Both deaths were caused by falling branches.

The storm has led to schools, airports and train services to shut down with several people facing power cuts.

Beachfront café in Devon closes after Storm Ciarán smashes windows and doors

Friday 3 November 2023 03:30 , Shweta Sharma

A popular beachfront café in Devon experienced severe damage during the tumultuous Storm Ciarán, leading to its temporary closure.

James Tribble, the owner of The Hideaway in Seaton, Devon, said he was left shocked after woken up by an alert on his motion detection security camera at the restaurant at 7.15am.

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.”

Despite seeing the damage on his security cameras he was unable to get to the scene immediately as it was high tide and he didn’t want to risk his safety in the storm.

Storm Ciarán arrives in Italy

Friday 3 November 2023 04:00 , Lydia Patrick

Storm Ciarán is sweeping its way across Italy as it moves southward, with weather warnings in place in Venice and Naples.

A man took to X to share the disruption in Prato, Tuscany.

Emergency work being done in Downpatrick as clean-up begins elsewhere in Co Down

Friday 3 November 2023 04:30 , Shweta Sharma

Recovery efforts are in progress in Newry and Newcastle, with ongoing emergency response operations in Downpatrick, as confirmed by a County Down council.

The regions of Downpatrick, Newcastle, and Newry in Northern Ireland bore the brunt of an extended period of heavy rainfall, resulting in severe flooding.

Several rivers in Northern Ireland reached unprecedented levels, leading to the inundation of roads.

The police, firefighters, ambulance service, local councils, and state agencies have been coordinating with the Red Cross to provide assistance to the impacted areas.

Dozens of flood warnings in England as UK reels under after-effects of Storm Ciarán

Friday 3 November 2023 04:32 , Shweta Sharma

Several flood warnings are active in the south of England as the UK reels under the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciarán.

With around 80 flood warnings and over 220 flood alerts across the UK, the south coast and Channel Islands were pummeled by heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph.

Nearly 150,000 homes lost power, with approximately 11,300 properties still without electricity as of 4pm yesterday.

Although reconnections reached 135,700, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) emphasised ongoing efforts amid challenging conditions due to violent winds.

The situation is gradually improving as Storm Ciaran moves into the North Sea, though localized rainfall persists in some areas.

The weekend outlook includes showers in the northwest and northeast of Scotland.

Jersey Airport is temporarily closed to commercial flights, with the expectation of reopening for emergencies and medical transfers. In Dorset, firefighters safely evacuated 70 people from Freshwater Holiday Park, near Bridport, with some rescued by boat.

Ciarán’s chaos continues

Friday 3 November 2023 05:00 , Lydia Patrick

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.

The storm caused travel chaos and the AA, which had a large number of callouts in southern England, said it had “rescued 84 customers stuck in flood so far today, with thousands more impacted by the weather”.

Baby monitor captures window blown off by Storm Ciarán

Friday 3 November 2023 05:30 , Shweta Sharma

A baby monitor has captured the moment when the windows of a room were blown off by strong winds during Storm Ciarán.

Jessica O’Reilly, a woman from Jersey, was asleep, when she was woken by strong winds and moments later the window glass broke, sending a gust of air inside the room.

In pictures - Storm Ciarán sweeps across UK

Friday 3 November 2023 06:00 , Lydia Patrick

Dozens of flood warnings in England as UK reels under Storm Ciaran

Friday 3 November 2023 06:30 , Shweta Sharma

Several flood warnings are active in the south of England as the UK reels under the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciaran.

With around 80 flood warnings and over 220 flood alerts across the UK, the south coast and Channel Islands were pummeled by heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph.

Nearly 150,000 homes lost power, with approximately 11,300 properties still without electricity as of 4pm on yesterday.

Although reconnections reached 135,700, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) emphasised ongoing efforts amid challenging conditions due to violent winds.

The situation is gradually improving as Storm Ciaran moves into the North Sea, though localized rainfall persists in some areas.

The weekend outlook includes showers in the northwest and northeast of Scotland.

Jersey Airport remains closed

Friday 3 November 2023 07:00 , Lydia Patrick

Ports of Jersey said Jersey Airport would remain closed to commercial flights into Friday because of extensive infrastructure, equipment and system failures.

“Ports of Jersey 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 said.

“We are working to remedy the faults as quickly as possible, but until the work is completed and the airport is safe, secure and compliant, it has to remain closed to commercial operations.

“We are striving to open the airport at 2pm tomorrow and a further announcement at midday will confirm whether this is possible.

“The airport remains open for emergencies and medical transfers.

“The harbour is functioning as normal.”

Dozens of flood warnings in place after Storm Ciaran chaos

Friday 3 November 2023 07:23 , Holly Evans

The threat of flooding remains high in the south of England as the UK feels the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciaran.

Almost 90 flood warnings are in place with more than 235 flood alerts stretching up through the country, after the south coast and the Channel Islands were battered with heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph on Thursday.

The extreme weather looks set to bring downpours and strong winds to Scotland and parts of northern England on Friday.

Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power and by 4pm on Thursday, around 11,300 properties still had no electricity.

Jersey Airport to remain shut today after extensive damage

Friday 3 November 2023 07:30 , Shweta Sharma

Jersey Airport would remain closed to commercial flights today because of extensive infrastructure, equipment and system failures, Ports of Jersey said, after Storm Ciaran.

“Ports of Jersey 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 said.

“We are working to remedy the faults as quickly as possible, but until the work is completed and the airport is safe, secure and compliant, it has to remain closed to commercial operations.

“We are striving to open the airport at 2pm tomorrow and a further announcement at midday will confirm whether this is possible.

“The airport remains open for emergencies and medical transfers.

“The harbour is functioning as normal.”

Storm Ciaran expected to move into the North Sea

Friday 3 November 2023 08:16 , Holly Evans

The weather is expected to move northwards today, after wreaking havoc across southern England and Jersey.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “Hopefully the worst of it is now easing at it moves away.

“Ciaran is moving into the North Sea. It’s weakening. It is filling but it’s still bringing quite a blustery wind to many places.”

Longer spells of rain will continue across the north east of Scotland and parts of the Pennines later on Friday, but it will be a quieter picture further south compared with Thursday, Mr McGivern said.

Over the weekend, the north west will see showers, as will the north east of Scotland.

Storm Ciarán kills 3 people as it brings record rainfall to Italy, taking European death toll to 10

Friday 3 November 2023 09:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Record-breaking rain produced floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as Storm Ciarán pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping residents in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars.

At least three people were killed, bringing the storm‘s death toll in western Europe to 10.

Italian Civil Protection authorities said 200 millimeters (nearly 8 inches) of rain fell in a three-hour period, from the city of Livorno on the coast to the inland valley of Mugello, and caused riverbanks to overflow.

Video shows at least a dozen cars getting pushed down a flooded road.The dead in Tuscany included an 85-year-old man found in the flooded ground floor of his home near the city of Prato, north of Florence, and an 84-woman who died while trying to push water out of her home in the same area, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The other victim was reported in Livorno.At least three people were missing Friday in Tuscany, and one person was reported missing in the mountains of Veneto, north of Venice.

Other regions were on high-alert and authorities warned that the storm was heading toward southern Italy.Ciarán left at least seven people dead as it swept across Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany on Thursday.

The storm devastated homes, caused travel mayhem and cut power to a vast number of people.

As the storm moved on, it left hospitals flooded in Italy’s Pisa and Mugello. Throughout Tuscany, train lines and highways were disrupted and schools were closed.

Storm Ciaran brings air, rail and sea chaos as travel warning issued

Friday 3 November 2023 09:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Storm Ciaran, the latest bout of bad weather to hit the UK and neighbouring countries, is causing widespread travel disruption – with cancellations and delays expected to last until Saturday.

More than 100 UK flights are grounded. At sea, the worst conditions are in the Channel. Crossings from Dover to both Calais and Dunkirk are suspended.

Dozens of rail links are closed – some ahead of the expected storm, others because of fallen trees or flooding.

Storm Ciaran brings air, rail and sea chaos as travel warning issued

Storm Ciarán: More than 260 flood warnings and alerts across UK - see your area

Friday 3 November 2023 10:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

More than 260 flood warnings and alerts across UK amid Storm Ciaran - see your area

Five killed in Italy’s Tuscany as death toll from storm in Europe rises to 12

Friday 3 November 2023 10:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

At least 12 people have died across Europe as Storm Ciarán unleashed chaos and widespread flooding.

Five people were killed in Italy’s Tuscany as the storm trapped residents in their homes, inundated hospitals and overturned cars.

Italian Civil Protection authorities said nearly eight inches of rain fell in a three-hour period, from the city of Livorno on the coast to the inland valley of Mugello, and caused riverbanks to overflow.

Video showed at least a dozen cars getting pushed down a flooded road.

“There was a wave of water bombs without precedence,” Tuscany governor Eugenio Giani told Italian news channel Sky TG24 as he tried to describe the downpour.

He reported the five deaths on social media and posted photos of vast inland areas inundated by the flooding.

Satellite image shows Storm Ciarán

Friday 3 November 2023 11:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

This satellite image shows Storm Ciarán as it falls over Europe.

Yellow weather warning for Bonfire night

Friday 3 November 2023 11:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Saturday as downpours are expected to hit England.

The Met Office said: “A spell of heavy rain early in the day clears northwards but is followed by fairly frequent heavy and blustery showers.

“These are likely to be focused in some southern and southeastern coastal counties by afternoon, with thunderstorms catching a few locations.

“Around 15-25 mm of rain will fall in some places but with perhaps 30 - 40 mm by the end of the day in coastal southeast England. Additional hazards could include large waves and spray along some southern coasts.”

Friday 3 November 2023 11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cars abandoned in deep floodwater as Storm Ciaran batters Jersey

AI company trialled to predict power outages caused by storms

Friday 3 November 2023 12:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A power company is trialling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict faults in the electricity network so it can restore power to homes faster.

ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) is using AI technology to better pinpoint potential faults caused by severe weather and ensure engineers and equipment are mobilised to tackle problems when - and even before - they occur.

The firm, which serves more than three million homes and businesses across the UK, has described the £5 million Predict4Resilience project as “revolutionary” as it will use AI to predict where outages could occur up to a week in advance.

The technology will use historic weather and fault data along with network asset and landscape information to develop machine learning models.

This will be combined with real-time weather forecasting to inform control room staff where bad weather will hit and what kind of damage to expect with improved accuracy.

Travel disruption continues

Friday 3 November 2023 12:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rail services remain disrupted as the UK feels the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciaran.

LNER, the main train operator on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, advised passengers not to travel until Saturday.

A significant number of delays and cancellations was expected as trains and staff are out of position following power supply failures at both ends of the route on Thursday.

A power surge caused a signalling failure at Edinburgh Waverley, while damage to overhead wires in the Peterborough area led to the line being blocked.

Several other train operators also warned over disruption on Friday while debris from Storm Ciaran was cleared from tracks.

The threat of flooding remains high in the south of England.

Storm Ciarán: More than 200 flood warnings and alerts across UK - see your area

Friday 3 November 2023 12:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Storm Ciaran has arrived, bringing destruction in its wake including roofs ripped off houses, damaged cars- and smashed windows.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and alerts across much of the country, including dozens along the south coast.

Thousands of homes are still without power after heavy storms lashed against the southcoast of England on Thursday.

More than 200 flood warnings and alerts across UK amid Storm Ciaran - see your area

Yellow weather warnings in place for Friday and Saturday

Friday 3 November 2023 13:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A yellow rain warning will be in place from 5am to midnight on Saturday across all of southern England, including Cornwall, Kent and the Isle of Wight.

There will be frequent heavy and blustery showers throughout the day, with the odd thunderstorm and 30 to 40mm of rainfall possible in coastal, south-eastern areas.

Oli Claydon, spokesperson for the Met Office, said: “[It is] all being driven by another area of low pressure that’s crossing the United Kingdom through Saturday.

“Obviously it’s nothing urgent or to the same extent as we saw with Storm Ciaran, and that will clear out into the North Sea by the time we get to Saturday evening.”

Another yellow rain warning is currently in place in north-east Scotland until 5pm and may cause some disruption.

More broadly on Friday, it remains blustery along the east coast and a few showers still persist, particularly in western areas, but it is “nothing much to be too concerned about”, Mr Claydon said.

Winds from Storm Ciarán whip up a wildfire in Spain

Friday 3 November 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A wildfire abetted by storm winds in eastern Spain has burned some 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land and forced the evacuation of 850 people from four towns, officials said Friday.

Some 200 firefighters and army emergency unit soldiers were deployed to try to extinguish the day-old blaze near the eastern town of Montitxelvo. The regional government of Valencia said it hoped five water-carrying planes and helicopters would be deployed in the operation.

Regional president Carlos Mazón called on people to avoid travel in the area or activities in forests that could start fires.

Winds from Storm Ciarán whip up a wildfire in Spain

Watch - The weekend’s forecast

Friday 3 November 2023 14:00 , Lydia Patrick

More yellow weather warnings to come this weekend

Friday 3 November 2023 14:30 , Lydia Patrick

Storm Ciaran has largely eased but more yellow weather warnings will continue to affect the UK this weekend.

The Met Office said the storm had now moved into the North Sea, but parts of Scotland and southern England would continue to see heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.

It comes after Storm Ciaran battered the south coast and the Channel Islands with heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph on Thursday, leaving nearly 150,000 homes without power.

A yellow rain warning will be in place from 5am to midnight on Saturday across all of southern England, including Cornwall, Kent and the Isle of Wight.

There will be frequent heavy and blustery showers throughout the day, with the odd thunderstorm and 30 to 40mm of rainfall possible in coastal, south-eastern areas.

Another yellow rain warning is currently in place in north-east Scotland until 5pm and may cause some disruption.

After Ciarán what next? Storm names revealed for 2023

Friday 3 November 2023 15:30 , Lydia Patrick

Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power after Storm Ciarán caused severe weather with widespread flooding and damage across the UK and Europe.

The UK is reeling under the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciarán that recorded gust winds of more than 100mph in Jersey with strong winds and rains predicted for some parts of the country today.

This week’s storm was named after Ciarán Fearon, a civil servant who works for the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The storm that battered Britain late last month - Babet - was named by Dutch weather service KMNI after a woman who visited an open day at its headquarters and put her own name forward, as she said she “was born during a storm”.

Storm Agnes was the first official storm of the season, named after Agnes Mary Clerke, an Irish astronomer and science writer.

What storm will strike next?

After Ciarán what next? Storm names revealed for 2023

Why the UK is vulnerable to flooding

Friday 3 November 2023 16:00 , Lydia Patrick

Prof Trevor Hoey, a Professor of River Science at Brunel University London and director of the Centre for Flood Risk and Resilience, explains why the UK is vulnerable to flooding and how the government is managing flood risk.

He said: “On a global scale, we are not as vulnerable as many other parts of the world, so we shouldn't overstate our vulnerability. However, we are vulnerable to flooding because we are located in a relatively wet part of the world so we are always going to get a lot of rain-bearing weather systems coming our way, and periodically, those are going to be very intense, heavy, prolonged rain, even in the absence of climate change.

“There are always going to be periods where you get clusters of wet conditions that will give rise to flooding. On top of this, we are living in an era of climate change. And there is evidence that things are getting worse.”

Mapped : Flood warnings in place

Friday 3 November 2023 16:10 , Lydia Patrick

There are 42 flood warnings and 185 flood alerts in place across England and Wales as the Met Office forecast more showers for bonfire weekend.

In pictures- Storm Ciarán

Friday 3 November 2023 16:30 , Lydia Patrick

Storm Ciarán: More than 200 flood warnings and alerts across UK - see your area

Friday 3 November 2023 17:00 , Lydia Patrick

Storm Ciaran has arrived, bringing destruction in its wake including roofs ripped off houses, damaged cars- and smashed windows.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and alerts across much of the country, including dozens along the south coast.

Thousands of homes are still without power after heavy storms lashed against the southcoast of England on Thursday.

More than 200 flood warnings and alerts across UK amid Storm Ciaran - see your area

Bonfire Night celebrations at risk of washout as Met Office issues weekend warnings

Friday 3 November 2023 18:18 , Lydia Patrick

Britons have been warned to expect a washout bonfire weekend as the remnants of Storm Ciarán are set to bring more downpours on Saturday.

A yellow weather warning is in place across much of the south of England with travel disruption expected as rain falls on ground already saturated from the storm.

Tonight, showers will continue across the northeast and west, while parts of Scotland and northern England have been told to expect frost and fog.

By Saturday, rain and wind will sweep northwards across England and Wales and those in the south can expect to see lightning. By Sunday, those celebrating Bonfire night can expect conditions to remain dry but chilly as temperatures are predicted to dip.

British Red Cross volunteers and staff have been supporting communities affected by flooding

Friday 3 November 2023 19:00 , Lydia Patrick

Volunteers in Scotland and North and Central England are supporting UK Power Networks by contacting their Priority Services Register customers to provide welfare calls, checking on people who may be struggling due to a lack of power, with more than 120 people contacted so far.

The charity has been supporting people in Northern Ireland who were evacuated to a rest a centre in Portadown due to the storm. There volunteers provided emotional support and practical help such as clothing and cash assistance. They also checked on vulnerable people living in flooded areas and supported emergency services in the area too. The team have assisted people with mobility issues who have been unable to leave their homes.

Volunteers and staff remain on standby across the UK, as more rain is expected over the next three days, including in areas where the ground is already saturated following storm Babet.

Red Cross reveals how to prepare for a flood

Friday 3 November 2023 20:00 , Lydia Patrick

Before a flood · Move sentimental and important items upstairs· Take photographs around your home. This may help with insurance claims· Shut and lock all windows and doors but ensure you have an easily accessible escape route from the property· If you need to evacuate, turn off the mains power before you leave. You can be electrocuted in floodwater if the power remains switched on.· Move vehicles to higher ground so they won’t be caught in rising floodwater

During a flood· Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over. Two feet of water can float a car.· Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage.· If the flood poses a threat to your safety, call the emergency services immediately.· Need to leave your home and have nowhere to stay? Your local council will help.· Contact the National Flood Forum for more advice

After a floodFlooding is a stressful experience. If you need support, call NHS 111 by dialling 111. They’ll tell you about crisis support services· Boil tap water or use bottled water until supplies are declared safe· Dispose of any food that may have been contaminated· Follow the UK government’s advice on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up after a flood

This evening’s forecast

Friday 3 November 2023 21:00 , Lydia Patrick

The Met Office predict continued patchy rain in the far northeast with some showers in the west.

They expect clear spells developing in places ahead of a band of rain spreading northeastwards.

The north could experience a few mist and fog patches developing where skies remain clear.

Watch- Forecasters reveal correct pronunication of ‘Ciarán'

Friday 3 November 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick

Spoiler- we’ve all been saying it wrong.

Calls for financial aid for businesses counting the costs after flooding

Friday 3 November 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick

Calls have been made for financial aid to be made available for businesses counting the costs after severe flooding impacted the eastern half of Northern Ireland.

Downpatrick, Newry, Kilkeel and Portadown are among the areas worst hit following heavy rain earlier this week.

On Friday morning, the Department for Infrastructure said water levels in most areas were starting to recede and recovery operations were under way in Newry and other locations.

It said River Bann levels are also falling, which should lead to an improvement in conditions in Portadown over the next couple of days.

However, they described watercourses as remaining “stubbornly high” in the Downpatrick area, which has had an impact on the viability of beginning planned pumping operations.

“Preparation works ahead of the major pumping operation within this extremely challenging environment are underway and, as indicated on site with elected representatives and traders yesterday, efforts to remove flood water from Market Street will depend on how natural water levels recede and how effective our works today will be,” it said.

“Every effort is being made to begin pumping as soon as possible, as the department and our multi-agency partners are keen to do all that we can to reduce the impacts of the flooding in Downpatrick.”

Six killed as 'unprecedented' downpours swamp Italy's Tuscany

00:00 , Lydia Patrick

Six people died and two were missing after rivers burst their banks following torrential overnight rain in the central Italian region of Tuscany, local authorities said on Friday.

There had been fears that the River Arno could flood the historic city of Florence after nearby towns were swamped by the southern edge of Storm Ciaran, but the high water point passed in mid-morning without major incident.

“The situation is still very critical,” Monia Monni, regional councillor for civil protection, told Reuters, referring especially to Campi Bisenzio, a town about 15 kilometres (9 miles) north-west of Florence.

“(Elsewhere), the water has drained away but there is mud and the devastation that an event like this leaves behind”, Monni added.

Around 190 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, including 150 in Campi Bisenzio, where ground floor properties were damaged, parked cars were half-submerged and rescue officials navigated flooded streets with rubber dinghies.

Flood damage in Ireland ‘would bring tears to your eyes'

01:00 , Lydia Patrick

The minister for social protection has said the flood damage she saw during a visit to Co Louth would “bring tears to your eyes”.

Minister Heather Humphreys and the minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Patrick O’Donovan visited business owners and householders in Carlingford on Friday.

A further three million euros were given as funding for the humanitarian assistance scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection this week, to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by flooding in Louth and Wexford.

Those floods followed flooding in parts of Cork and Waterford in October.

Speaking to reporters in Carlingford, Ms Humphreys said that some of those affected did not have insurance cover “through no fault of their own”.

“They need help because their houses are absolutely devastated. Like, it would really bring tears to your eyes when you see what they’re putting up with.

“They’re showing you the damage, and the dirt and the muck and all that’s involved in a house being flooded, it really is heartbreaking for them.”

People affected by Storm Ciaran urged to check insurance terms and keep receipts

02:00 , Lydia Patrick

Households and businesses affected by damage caused by Storm Ciaran are being reminded to keep receipts and check the terms of their insurance policies.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) said that temporary emergency repairs at a reasonable cost should be paid by insurers, but people should make sure they keep all of their receipts.

Many home insurance policies and business policies cover flood and water damage, but it is important to check exclusions or excesses in the policy that may affect the cover, it said.

Strong winds and rain from Storm Ciaran have been battering parts of the UK, including the south of England and the Channel Islands.

People affected by Storm Ciaran urged to check insurance terms and keep receipts

Watch - Cars abandoned in waist-high floodwater as heavy rain batters Jersey

03:00 , Lydia Patrick

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place

04:00 , Lydia Patrick

The threat of flooding remains high in the south of England as the UK feels the after-effects of the devastating Storm Ciaran.

42 flood warnings are in place with 167 flood alerts alerts stretching up through the country, after the south coast and the Channel Islands were battered with heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph on Thursday.

The extreme weather looks set to bring downpours and strong winds to Scotland and parts of northern England on Friday.

Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power and by 4pm on Thursday, around 11,300 properties still had no electricity.

Some 135,700 had been reconnected, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said.

Pictures- Storm Ciarán chaos

05:00 , Lydia Patrick

Watch - Sea spits mangled 4x4 truck out onto Devon beach following Storm Ciarán

06:00 , Lydia Patrick

Bonfire Night celebrations at risk of washout as Met Office issues weekend warnings

07:00 , Lydia Patrick

Britons have been warned to expect a washout bonfire weekend as the remnants of Storm Ciarán are set to bring more downpours on Saturday.

A yellow weather warning is in place across much of the south of England with travel disruption expected as rain falls on ground already saturated from the storm.

Tonight, showers will continue across the northeast and west, while parts of Scotland and northern England have been told to expect frost and fog.

By Saturday, rain and wind will sweep northwards across England and Wales and those in the south can expect to see lightning. By Sunday, those celebrating Bonfire night can expect conditions to remain dry but chilly as temperatures are predicted to dip.

Bonfire Night celebrations at risk of washout as Met Office issues weekend warnings

From Kent to Cornwall: South still under yellow heavy rain warning

08:36 , Barney Davis

A warning for heavy rain and showers is still in force across southern England.

The Met Office yellow alert comes days after Storm Ciaran battered the same area with rain, flooding and winds of up to 100mph.

Although Storm Ciaran has largely eased, the warning has been issued to last from 5am on Saturday to 11.59pm – stretching from Kent to Cornwall.

Up to 40mm (1.57in) of rain is possible.

The Met Office has said there would be frequent heavy and blustery showers throughout the day, with the odd thunderstorm and 30-40mm of rainfall possible in coastal, south-eastern areas.

Jersey residents count cost as rare trees wiped out by Storm Ciarán

08:47 , Barney Davis

Large numbers of uprooted and unstable trees will keep Jersey’s reservoirs closed until further notice while clear-up operations can begin in the wake of Storm Ciarán.

Jersey Water said both Queen’s Valley and Val de la Mare reservoirs will remain closed to the public over the weekend and likely into next week so that workers can assess the full extent of the damage and start the necessary works to make footpaths safe again.

Alex Morel, from Jersey Trees for Life, said the “scale of devastation is far beyond what we expected”.

“We have lost some rare and threatened species of trees which will be hard to replace,” Mr Morel said. “Our priority at this point in time is to make the paths safe again for people who want to walk around the arboretum and the reservoir.”

Jersey Water chief executive Helier Smith said: “Initial inspections of the reservoirs indicate that we have very sadly lost a number of trees across both sites. Footpaths are impassable and very hazardous so we cannot stress enough how important it is for members of the public to respect the closures we have in place.

“We face a significant clear-up operation before we can consider re-opening the reservoirs. Very sadly the arboretum at Val de la Mare has been hit hard and there have been significant losses across the botanical collections, which is particularly upsetting given the important work Jersey Trees for Life has been undertaking since we committed to funding their maintenance programme earlier this year.”

Heartstopping footage of two children narrowly avoiding huge waves crashing into Folkestone

09:05 , Barney Davis

This is the shocking moment two children are nearly knocked down by huge waves from Storm Ciaran crashing into Folkestone.

Two children are seen narrowly avoiding being swept off a promenade as they run along the seafront during the height of the storm with an adult following them.

They fortunately make it to the safety of a stairwell after one gets flattened by the rushing water.

The RNLI said in the hours approaching Storm Ciaran it advised people to “exercise extreme caution if visiting the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers”.

“We’ve seen a number of people in perilous situations where the outcome could have been far more serious,” a spokesman said when asked about the close call in Folkestone by Kent Online.

Storm Domingos to slam into Europe on the heels of deadly Ciarán

09:28 , Barney Davis

The west of France looks to suffer the strongest winds from Storm Domingo this weekend, particularly Saturday evening, with 80mph gales possible along the Atlantic coast.

50 mph gusts are expected across the north coast of Spain, however along exposed coasts and mountains in the north, there could be gusts over 60mph.

Ciarán pulled away Thursday afternoon and evening. The Met Office announced that Ciarán established a record for the lowest pressure in England and Wales during November; typically, the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

Falling trees killed several people in France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany because of the storm’s vast area of strong winds.

10:19 , Barney Davis

The Jersey islands are expected to escape the worst of Storm Domingos just days after heavy winds battered the Channel Islands.

Although wind speeds are set to increase across the area, Jersey Met said there were no signs of any significant storms for at least the next six days.

In a statement, the agency said: “The weather remains unsettled with further wet and windy spells.

“However, there are no signs of any significant storms or heavy rainfall events affecting the Channel Islands over the next six days.

“The Spanish Meteorological Agency has named the next low pressure ‘Storm Domingos’, which is set to bring disruption to parts of Spain, Portugal and France today. Storm Domingos is not expected to directly affect the Channel Islands.

“There will be occasional gales and rainfall over the weekend, but this will be much less than what was experienced Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

“Saturday will see the wind reach force five to seven, with the chance of wind touching gale force eight briefly at times, which is normal for this time of year.

“During the early hours of Sunday the wind will reach force seven to gale force eight and may briefly reach severe gale force nine, but this will only be for a short time, and the winds will ease later on Sunday morning.”

Houses damaged as Storm Ciaran batters Jersey

10:49 , Barney Davis

Met Office warns of flooding in Devon and Cornwall

11:41 , Barney Davis

Heavy rain has been forecast across Devon, Cornwall and much of the south amid fears of more flooding after Storm Ciarán battered the country.

The Met Office has extended a yellow warning for rain adding: “Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible.

“Large waves may lead to dangerous conditions across some English Channel coastlines.”

Clarissa Newell, from the Environment Agency in the South West, said: “When the catchments are full of water like this it’s really important to know that it will rise very quickly.

“You can think you’re having a bit of rain then suddenly it’s coming in through your door.”