Storm Ciarán

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

This is an early heads up.

Models have consistently been bringing in a deep low pressure for sometime over Wed/Thurs. As is often the case, details are yet to be nailed down, but some of the models are producing some severe gusts - southern coastal winds of up to 90mph and more widespread inland winds of around 60mph. With storms, comes rain too unfortunately. A wobble in the track could take them further north or, keep it all in France. Exactly when and where the low pressure develops will make a big difference in the outcome. More details to follow.

If the storm is named, it will be Storm Ciaran. At that point I'll ask MNHQ to change the title appropriately.

It was force 12 here I. Jersey. We lost a tree and some roof tiles. But the island has been absolutely battered.

Could really do without another rerun of 2023-24. We lost our roof. I remember it all very well, my dad also had dementia and I was having IVF. Not fun! It was mainly the terrible rain which hardly let up before Christmas then the succession of outrageous storms in January and February

Looking at the West Cornwall forecast it now looks red for the foreseeable 😢. It was 84moh last night near Land's End and not as wild as Jersey but windy enough. And my moth is moaning because "they" got it wrong and people got all worked up for nothing where she lives 🤬🤬🤬🤬

Thank you @Flickersy. The cat is now back inside. She's not happy as it's still calm but I can see the tops of the trees starting to move around so the wind must be starting to pick up a bit.

I think Met office is more reliable now from what I've noticed, would be interested in what others think

@Unusualactualname better to close the school and have things not as bad as anticipated than to keep the school open and things be worse.... One of the good things to come out of COVID was the fact that schools can now close for weather and switch to remote learning easily (at secondary anyway) , so this decision is not as fraught as it used to be.

We’re Southampton and it’s eerily still and quiet. Very strange. I heard rain and wind in the night but nothing has moved in my garden. Pots all still standing so it couldn’t have been too bad wind wise.

We live on Portland in Dorset. The Police have just closed the causeway road on and off the island. It will be closed for several hours. The tide is very high, there's flooding and strong winds.

Calming down in Plymouth. Back to the normal windy and rainy now.
My barometer is reading 960 and has risen slightly since last night.

My thoughts go out to all those on the CI and anywhere else that's been hard hit.

I think we're in the eye now, north Kent. I have a concert to go to this evening that I was really looking fwd too so hope the trains are running

What's your husband's reasoning, @Blughbablugh ? That it'll get better, or it'll be manageable after all? Or is he just more "gung ho"?

@Unusualactualname It’s so frustrating for everyone, literally nothing but a small breeze.

Hope everyone is safe though as it’s obviously horrendous in Channel Islands and other parts of UK x

Another one here in Portsmouth. As pp says, the skies are darkening now. The wind's picking up again.

Portsmouth City Council have told us to put out wheelie bins out as normal for collection today. The black bins are usually collected around midday, so by early afternoon there are going to be empty wheelie bins blowing all over the roads with me chasing around after them like Frank Spencer.

Local radio is reporting seafront is covered in seaweed, and Canoe Lake (seafront) has overflowed - 'the swans are loving it'.

Btw if anyone knows of someone who is homeless or at risk and needs help, the Lifehouse in Southsea is open today 6-8pm for a hot meal / food bags; and the emergency homeless hub service is in operation in Elm Grove, Southsea.

Canoe Lake was over at the weekend though, and the tide at Hilsea on Monday was the highest I've seen. We're over the hill, so sheltered from the wind a bit, so I can imagine it's a bit rougher down there. But, generally, we've got off much more lightly than anticipated. DS is at school within the city limits, so his closed, and he could absolutely be there safely, so it's slightly frustrating.

Yes Monday at Hilsea was interesting to see! My son swims with Northsea and so we are at Mountbatten most mornings and evenings!

Training cancelled this morning but I'm wondering about this evening? Due there for 5pm but think it'll be ok. We drive in from Fareham area.

Mid Devon here - seems the worst of the wind has passed us by, but it’s raining heavily and set to do so most of the day. Reports of trees down and flooding round and about, but everything I can see from my windows appears to be intact.

I have a sister and niece in Jersey and another niece in Guernsey. All reporting garden fences down, plus a wall and a tree. But thankfully no damage to their houses…… although I doubt they’ll have been put to check for missing tiles yet.

Another Guernsey donkey here - been up since 6am. I think everything is OK around my house but the Island has taken a bit of a hammering although not as bad as Jersey. Hope everyone across the water stays safe. On a positive note, at least I don't have to water the garden for a while.....

I've just seen another local video that's really got to (pregnant, hormonal) me. It's taken from a baby monitor and the bedroom window shatters over the next to me cot.

Mum snatches the baby out of the way like she's a superhero and they've been safely evacuated apparently but it's really upsetting

Another in Southampton. Looks very dreary but not really worse than any other autumn/winter day... at the moment!!

If anyone is heading out into their town or city today, please check if your area has activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). This means that any rough sleepers must be provided shelter. If you see any homeless people, you can call with their location and someone will go and check on them. You do not have to speak to the homeless person yourself if you feel uncomfortable doing so.

OMG how scary :(

SE Cornwall. Barometer fell to 977 millibars! But the worst seems to have gone through here, although we're fairly sheltered. Just north of Plymouth.

I saw that. Even my DP who works in S&R said "holy fuck"

Hope you are ok this morning Foley. You're not going to forget last night in a hurry.

Thanks @WestwardHo1. Absolutely knackered but still full of adrenaline and still very very windy so might be a couple of hours before I get my head down.

Appreciating that we have been very very lucky compared to some of the community though.

It's just rainy in Bristol, no wind. Has it missed us?

South Oxfordshire. Lots of heavy rain overnight and fairly windy. Very still this morning but the wind is now picking up again. DS said it woke him up in the night.

Forecast is for high wind and rain from around midday onwards. We've had a flood warning in place for a couple of days but hope that the rivers can cope.

East Sussex and it's just like a normal windy day, very odd!