The UK was left reeling as Storm Ciarán brought widespread damage and disruption to parts of England and the Channel Islands. Heavy rain and winds of up to 102mph hit the region, causing the worst of the wind to abate by Thursday lunchtime. However, the Environment Agency warned that floods could follow, with so much rain falling on already saturated ground.
The aftermath of the storm revealed devastating scenes, with scores of people forced to evacuate their homes and hundreds of schools shut. Roads were blocked by landslips and fallen trees, and flights, bus, rail, and shipping routes were affected. Around 20,000 homes were left without power, and a police officer was taken to hospital after a tree fell on his car.
In the Channel Islands, the Jersey government reported that wind speeds had reached 102mph, with more than 60 people evacuated from their homes due to damage to buildings. The island’s Met Section issued a red wind warning, its highest level, and all flights from the island were cancelled.
Natural Resources Wales warned that river levels in the far south-west of the country could be the highest ever recorded, with the agency issuing 90 flood warnings for England and 235 flood alerts. The Met Office recorded a new November record for the lowest mean sea level atmospheric pressure in England and Wales, with a value of 953.3 hectopascals in Plymouth, Devon, and 958.5 in St Athan in south Wales.
Effects of Storm CiaránClimatologist Friederike Otto explained that autumn and winter storms like this were more damaging due to climate change, citing increased rainfall and storm surges. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said that while the worst of the storm was easing, it was still bringing a blustery wind to many places.
The storm also caused chaos in northern France, leaving one person dead and 1.2m homes without electricity. Wind speeds of over 100mph were recorded, and parts of Brittany and Normandy were on red alert for strong winds. At least two people had died in Belgium and another person in the Netherlands as a result of the storm.
Despite the devastation, residents and business owners were urged to remain calm and not panic-buy supplies. As the storm slowly begins to clear, the people of the UK are left to pick up the pieces and rebuild.