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Over 100,000 homes were left without power after Storm Ciarán caused severe weather with widespread flooding and damage across the UK and Europe. High Intensity 40fpm Obstruction Light
Hundreds of schools and several airports were forced to shut down as more than 80 flood warnings remain in place.
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.
Several people in Jersey were evacuated to hotels overnight on Wednesday and residents said they were hit by huge hailstones “bigger than golf balls”.
At least seven people have died across Europe in various storm-related incidents as more than a million people were left without power and schools and airports were also shut.
Have you been affected by Storm Ciarán? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk
Dozens of flood warnings in England as UK reels under after-effects of Storm Ciarán
Amber weather warnings issued across England and Wales
British Airways grounds 30+ Heathrow flights
Staggering number of flood warnings in place
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.
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.
Cars abandoned in deep floodwater as Storm Ciaran batters Jersey
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.”
This satellite image shows Storm Ciarán as it falls over Europe.
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.
Devastating images.They are those of the inspection over the affected areas of Campi Bisenzio, Prato and Quarrata.But our regional system responded with great determination.We have a great heart and strength and we will rebuild what we have lost.#Tuscany come on!❤️ pic.twitter.com/b00zJbcIPW
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
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
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
❗#ENT The line will remain closed between #Portadown & #Dundalk on Friday 3rd November. A bus substitution will run from Belfast Lanyon Place to Dundalk, via #Portadown & #Newry. Update to follow. 📷 See link for full details 👉 https://t.co/M3OPYMiy1l https://t.co/BTKHRUeM63 pic.twitter.com/n9xcLvk9or
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.
Right now in #Prato;a thread about the ongoing flood.pic.twitter.com/B65dpmdIK9
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.
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.
A man on Dover beach toppled to the floor after a gigantic wave floored him.
I'll let you guys fill in the blanks.....🤡👀#StormCiaran #Ciaran #BorrascaCiaranpic.twitter.com/kSHCW1RgRJ
⚠️ #StormCiarán has set a new record for the lowest mean sea level pressure recorded in England and Wales in November, with a value of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth and 958.5 hPa (mb) in St Athan ◾ The previous record in England was 959.7 hPa (mb), set in 1916 ◾ The previous… pic.twitter.com/zruckdYR2K
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
Want to know what the weather has in store for us this weekend? Here's Alex Burkill with all the details 👇 pic.twitter.com/0EBAyEssnH
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.”
Bus has front window blown out by Storm Ciarán winds
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.
TORRO Tornado Watch 2023/007 issued valid until 0800 GMT Thursday 2nd November 2023 https://t.co/tt2BEX87CM #StormCiaran pic.twitter.com/Jw6i5TJD35
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.
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
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.”
Father-of-three Carl Walker, 45, spent the night sleeping in the front room with his family due to safety fears.
“The authorities sent out plenty of warnings to islanders to prepare however I don’t think anyone was quite ready for the strength of the winds we experienced last night and this morning,” the Jersey Consumer Council Chairman said. “It’s like nothing anyone can ever recall.”
He added: “Some properties have had their roofs torn off and golfball-sized hailstones fell and damaged cars and houses. It smashed through car windows and conservatories.
“Myself and my family spent the evening sleeping in our front room downstairs to distract the children and stay safe.
“I could hear tiles falling from the roof. It was like a scene from a disaster movie. When it peaked at around 5am I went up to the top floor and it felt like the roof was about to lift off.”
Jersey airport was closed all day on Thursday and is set to remain closed until at least 2pm on Friday.
All flights from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney airports on Thursday were cancelled.
Airlines warned passengers booked to travel on other routes to check in advance – and allow extra time to reach the airport in case of disruption at ground level.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge say Storm Ciarán shows that climate change is a “present threat” rather than a “future possibility:
Dr Rihab Khalid, Isaac Newton Trust Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge said: “As records tumble, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events is a stark reminder that the impacts of climate change are not a future probability, but a present threat affecting us in all parts of the world.
“It is all too apparent that we are not yet prepared for the impacts of climate change. This is why building resilience and community-led adaptability must be at the forefront of our response. Slowing progress to net zero now will only mean more extreme weather and greater threats like this in the future.”
As Britons were battered by Storm Ciarán today, here’s what it looked like from space:
🛰️ Take a look at the latest view from space ☁️ The large swirl of cloud associated with #StormCiarán can be seen just off the east coast of England ☀️ There plenty of sunshine across Northern Ireland and western Scotland though pic.twitter.com/98dxnES5kK
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.
See if your area is affected below:
More than 260 flood warnings and alerts across UK amid Storm Ciaran - see your area
As people across the UK saw winds of over 100mph on Wednesday night and hundreds of schools were forced to close on Thursday, the Met Office has issued it’s latest forecast for this evening.
Although Storm Ciarán is now over the North Sea, Brits will still see a wet evening.
🌧️ Despite being located in the North Sea, #StormCiarán will bring a wet and windy end to Thursday for many 🌖 Clearer spells further south and west, although showers spreading inland from the west ⚠️ Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/fK0eYwWHZH
In Spain, where the storm battered much of the country with heavy rain and gale-force winds, emergency services in Madrid said a woman died after a tree fell on her.
Three other people were slightly injured in the incident in city centre street.
Parks in the capital and other cities were closed and several trains and flights were cancelled.
A sustainable energy expert says slowing efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions - which the government has done - will mean more storms such as this one.
Dr Rihab Khalid, Isaac Newton Trust research fellow at the University of Cambridge said: “Storm Ciarán hits the south coast of England with near record-breaking low pressure shortly after Storm Babet delivered the third wettest three-day period in England and Wales since records began in 1891. And it’s barely the beginning of November.“All this follows the joint hottest September ever in the UK, in a year that will almost certainly be the hottest humans have ever experienced.
“As records tumble, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events is a stark reminder that the impacts of climate change are not a future probability, but a present threat affecting us in all parts of the world.
“Climate action to tackle this is not only about reducing emissions but also about enhancing our capacity to weather the storms, figuratively and literally. “It is all too apparent that we are not yet prepared for the impacts of climate change. This is why building resilience and community-led adaptability must be at the forefront of our response.
“Slowing progress to net zero now will only mean more extreme weather and greater threats like this in the future.”
Train passengers in parts of Scotland and on some cross-border services will face delays until Saturday morning due to weather warnings in place as a result of Storm Ciaran, rail operators have announced.
A yellow warning for rain is in place for the east coast, from the Moray coast stretching down to Hull, until 6am on Friday.
In the south of England and Channel Islands on Thursday, the storm brought gusts of more than 100mph in some parts, leaving thousands of homes without power, forcing school closures and causing travel chaos.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Storm Ciaran, which is expected to bring heavy rain across the east coast of Scotland.
“Our first priority is always to ensure the safety of our staff and customers, so as a precautionary measure, speed restrictions will be in place across the Highlands and east coast. This will result in extended journey times along the affected routes.
“We’re asking customers to check their journey before travel, and to keep an eye on our website, app, or social media feeds for live updates.”
Storm Ciaran’s recording-breaking winds in France and across much of western Europe have left at least five people dead and injured several others.
The storm plunged vast numbers into darkness, devastating homes and causing travel mayhem.
Winds of more than 118mph battered the northern tip of the French Atlantic coast, uprooting trees and blowing out windows.
A lorry driver was killed when his vehicle was hit by a tree in northern France’s inland region of Aisne, said transport minister Clement Beaune.
Another person has been badly injured at a university in the northern city of Roubaix, and 15 more were hurt around western and northern France, authorities announced. Seven of the injured were emergency workers.
Huge waves slammed into French ports and shorelines, as wind flattened street signs and ripped off roofing. Felled trees blocked roads around western France, according to Associated Press reporters and images on French media and social networks.
Some 1.2 million French households were left without electricity, electrical utility Enedis announced.
That includes about half of the homes in Brittany, the Atlantic peninsula hardest hit by Ciaran. Enedis said it would deploy 3,000 workers to restore power when conditions allowed.
The wind reached up to 96mph on the Normandy coast and up to 90mph inland.
Fishing crews put their livelihoods on hold and stayed ashore. Local authorities closed forests, parks and beachfronts in some regions.
Local trains were cancelled across a swathe of western France, and all roads in the Finistere region of Brittany were closed on Thursday morning. Mr Beaune urged people to avoid driving and exercise caution when travelling across areas with weather warnings.
Storm Ciaran has killed two people after sweeping across parts of northwestern Europe.
One person was killed in Ghent, Belgium, according to Le Soir, which cited local police. They were hit by a falling tree.
Another person was killed by a falling tree in the south of the Netherlands, local police said.
Somerset Council’s highways teams responded to more than 100 incidents as Storm Ciaran battered the county overnight.
About 30 incidents involved fallen or hazardous trees while much of the rest were flood-related issues, the council said.
It added that 10 schools in the county were closed due to staff and students facing travel problems while Haygrove School in Bridgwater was closed due to building safety concerns.
Hurricane-force 12 winds have been recorded in Jersey, according to the island’s forecasters.
“Storm Ciaran briefly brought winds reaching hurricane-force 12 to the island,” it said.
It is the highest category of wind that can be recorded on the Beaufort Scale - which is used to show wind force.
Storm Ciaran briefly brought winds reaching Hurricane Force 12 to the Island, gusts recorded at St Helier Harbour up to 83kt/96mph peaking around 4:30 a.m. this morning. Jersey Airport recorded a gust of 88kt/101mph. Coastguard at St. Helier recorded a gust of 89kt/102mph.
— Jersey Met (@Jersey_Met) November 2, 2023
The body of a woman has been discovered on a Welsh beach during Storm Ciarán, police said.
The woman, who has not been named, was found on Penarth beach at 4.20pm yesterday, the force added.
Police, ambulance and coastguard officials were called to the beach at Penarth, South Wales, which is popular with walkers and open water swimmers.
“A body of a woman was found on Penarth Beach at around 4.20pm yesterday, Wednesday, 1 November. The woman’s identity is not known at this stage and enquiries are ongoing,” South Wales Police said.
Farmers and rural communities are “unfairly shouldering the burden” of flooding because of “years of poor management” from the Environment Agency, the rural landowners’ body has said.
Storm Ciaran is the second storm in two weeks to cause flooding across the UK, with the Met Office having issued yellow warnings for rain stretching throughout the south of England, Wales, north-east England and Scotland.
There are also 77 flood warnings in place from the Environment Agency showing a risk to properties, many of which are along the south coast.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) wants the Government to do more to support farmers and landowners and said their fields are being sacrificed to save houses and villages downstream.
Regional director Tim Bamford said: “Flooding can have a massive impact on farming and the countryside, with crops damaged and rural communities often cut off.
“Years of poor management of watercourses and flood defences by the Environment Agency, often caused by lack of resources, mean farmers are still unfairly shouldering the burden of flooding devastation.”
Here's a look at the highest gusts we've seen across the UK since 21:00 on Wednesday 1st November, in association with #StormCiarán 👇 pic.twitter.com/ulgfvIsMFW
The Met Office has revealed Storm Ciaran is a record breaker - setting a new low sea level pressure of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth.
Storm Ciarán has set a new record for the lowest mean sea level pressure recorded in England and Wales in November, with a value of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth and 958.5 hPa (mb) in St Athan.
“The previous record in England was 959.7 hPa (mb), set in 1916. The previous record in Wales was 962.7 hPa (mb), set in 2010. The record for the UK remains unbroken, and was set in Scotland in 1877 with a value of 939.7 hPa (mb),” it said on X, formerly Twitter.
⚠️ #StormCiarán has set a new record for the lowest mean sea level pressure recorded in England and Wales in November, with a value of 953.3 hPa (mb) in Plymouth and 958.5 hPa (mb) in St Athan ◾ The previous record in England was 959.7 hPa (mb), set in 1916 ◾ The previous… pic.twitter.com/zruckdYR2K
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All three Channel Islands airports – Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey – are closed today. Southampton, the mainland hub for the islands, has also seen 10 arrivals and departures from elsewhere cancelled.
The number of British Airways short-haul cancellations at Heathrow continues to grow. The airline has now grounded 40 domestic and European flights.
The BA cancellations including two round trips to each of Amsterdam, Belfast City, Brussels, Glasgow and Paris CDG. In addition, all 10 flights are cancelled between Heathrow and Jersey.
A spokesperson for British Airways said: “Like other airlines, we have had to make schedule adjustments due to the adverse weather conditions across the UK and Europe caused by Storm Ciaran.
“We’ve apologised to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans and our teams are working hard to get them on their way as quickly as possible.”
Passengers are being rebooked on other services, or can take a full refund.
The Netherlands is also hard hit. KLM has cancelled dozens of flights between its hub in Amsterdam and the UK due to reduced runway capacity at the Dutch airport.
The carrier is telling passengers: “Due to the expected weather conditions at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the runway capacity has been reduced on Thursday 2 November. As a result, some of our flights have been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.”
All 17 UK airports served by KLM, from Bristol to Inverness, have had some departures and arrivals grounded. Almost 50 flights to and from Amsterdam are affected. London City, London Heathrow and Manchester are worst hit.
The lunchtime British Airways departure from London City to Rotterdam has been grounded.
Passengers are entitled to be re-routed free of charge, with airlines required to provide hotels and meals as necessary until they reach their destinations – although KLM is telling passengers: “If your flight is delayed and you require accommodation, please find a hotel that meets your preferences.”
Late in the morning, GWR announced that the entire Great Western line between Newton Abbot in south Devon and Penzance in west Cornwall is closed.
“The advice is not to attempt to travel on this route before midday and expect significant disruption to continue for the rest of the day.”
No trains will run before this afternoon on several lines:
Newton Abbot-Penzance (inclusive of branch lines)
Water supplies in south east England have been cut, according to the region’s water provider.
“Due to Storm Ciaran and strong winds affecting power supplies across the south east there are some localised areas receiving intermittent supplies.
“As soon as we’re alerted to a supply issue we are responding as quickly as possible to restore supplies,” South East Water said on X, formerly Twitter.
Due to #StormCiaran and strong winds affecting power supplies across the south east there are some localised areas receiving intermittent supplies. As soon as we’re alerted to a supply issue we are responding as quickly as possible to restore supplies.https://t.co/057sELBK3I pic.twitter.com/LCo0zI3Rea
— South East Water (@sewateruk) November 2, 2023
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.
Green Yellow White Heliport Rotation Beacon Strong winds and rain from Storm Ciaran have been battering parts of the UK, including the south of England and the Channel Islands.