As Storm Ciarán continues to wreak havoc across the UK, more than 80 flood warnings are still in place following widespread flooding and damage on Thursday. The severe weather caused thousands of homes to be left without power, with wind gusts of over 100mph reported in some areas. Although the worst of the storm has passed, some parts of the country are still forecast to experience rain and strong winds on Friday.
North-eastern Scotland is under a yellow warning for rain on Friday, and south-east England is expected to be affected on Saturday. While 88 flood warnings remain in place across the south of England, a further 220 flood alerts are also in effect throughout the country. As of Friday morning, Ciarán was moving away from the UK and losing its strength.
Storm damage has led to the closure of schools in Jersey, which experienced some of the worst weather during the storm. Schools on the neighbouring islands of Guernsey and Alderney are set to reopen on Friday. Jersey’s airport will stay closed to commercial flights until at least the early hours of Friday as authorities deal with the damage. Islanders experienced hurricane-like supercell thunderstorms that brought lightning, large hailstones, and unprecedented gale-force winds, leading to widespread disruption.
In Northern Ireland, Downpatrick is among the areas currently experiencing flooding recovery operations, where river levels continue to remain high. Record-high levels of rivers have caused extensive damage across the country, leading to the situation described as ripping out the heart of the town. As for the rest of the British Isles, there have been reports of roofs being blown off homes, while some train lines have stopped completely. The Port of Dover also had to shut down its operations due to the rough sea conditions.
Storm Ciarán has also taken a toll across Europe, with several countries badly affected. Seven people so far have been confirmed to have died in France, Madrid, Belgium, and the Netherlands, including a five-year-old boy who was killed by a falling branch in the Belgian town of Ghent. Tuscany recorded three deaths with severe flooding leading to the flooding of several hospitals
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More