Heavy rain and gale-force winds, combined with high tides, have caused flooding in parts of the UK. One person was taken to hospital with hypothermia after flooding at the Medmerry Holiday Park in West Sussex, which led to the evacuation of up to 100 people. Fire chiefs urged anyone in the affected areas to seek higher ground if they were able to leave their homes. Flooding has also been reported in Littlehampton and Alverstoke, with numerous flood warnings issued across Hampshire.
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for parts of the West Sussex coast following a high tide, with gale force 8 winds causing an increase of 76cm (29.9in) to the expected seven-metre (22.9ft) tide in the wake of Storm Kathleen. The next high tide is due at about 13:00 BST. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for England’s southern coast, including Southampton and Brighton, with wind speeds of 45-55mph (72-88.5km/h), and peaking at 65mph (104.6km/h) in some areas before easing off from 09:00.
Firefighters helped around 50 residents from flooded homes in Alverstoke to safety, while numerous coastal roads in the area have become impassable, including Castle Street, East Cowes, and Western Shore near Southampton. Sea flooding is also affecting the railway line at Lymington Pier and tidal areas of the Hamble estuary, including Hamble, Bursledon and Warsash.
Michael Turner, operations manager for the Environment Agency, said that this was a named storm, Storm Pierrick, combined with really high spring tides. “That wind has blown the waves on shore and lifted the sea level. We’ve potentially seen some record-breaking high tides across the south coast,” he said.
The agency urged people to take care when travelling and to avoid walking in floodwater, as it can be deeper than it appears, and to phone 999 for urgent assistance in life-threatening situations. The public was asked to stay away from coastal paths and promenades as the stormy conditions made them particularly dangerous
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