A combination of a very high tide with storm force wind, and the risk of a sea surge, meant the Channel Islands were on red alert for dangerous and damaging weather during this morning’s rush hour (Wednesday).
Schools and businesses advised staff and parents that safety trumps timeliness, and that they’d rather people arrived late than risk their wellbeing.
[wpvideo LBmLKY25]
- Watch: the Guernsey garden turned into a boating lake
- Watch: Jersey’s sea wall breached by the storms
- Pictures: sea container drifting off Jersey’s north coast towed to shore
- Day two: a second day of wild weather
Jersey
One of the first structures to fall victim to the storm force gusts was a house on Apsley Road in Jersey whose balcony blew off entirely in the early hours, and was left sitting on the road below.
Before 6am, an hour ahead of the 12.3m high tide time, Jersey Police reported waves crashing over the sea wall along Victoria Avenue and multiple trees down including at Five Oaks near the JEP, on the road from La Hougue Bie to Grouville football pitch, on Grand Vaux between the tennis courts and the food hall, on the main road in St Lawrence between Three Oaks garage and Carrefour Selous, on La Rue de la Fontaine in St Peter, on La Route de la Francheville and at the bottom of Le Mont de Ste Marie in St Mary (hill down to Greve de Lecq).
By 6.30am, the westbound carriageway of Victoria Avenue was closed from West Park to the spur road at First Tower because of waves and debris being thrown over the sea wall. The coast road at Havre des Pas was also closed.
At 7am, the eastbound carriageway on the Avenue, from First Tower to West Park, was closed.
By 7.30am, flooding was reported on the Five Mile Road and at the Esplanade by Gloucester Street.
Get live updates from Jersey Police here.
At 8am, Jersey Coastguard reported a large shipping container adrift off the east coast of Jersey. It warned it was drifting in a north easterly direction.
Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “A big thank you to the emergency services, honorary police, other volunteers and good neighbours who’ve been working to keep us safe through this storm. Take care all.”
Guernsey
Guernsey was placed on the highest flood alert, a severe flood warning, for the west coast to coincide with the 9.8m high tide due to peak around 7am.
Traffic and Highways Services closed the Perelle Coast Road and flood barriers were put up. Get their updates here.
By 7.45am they reported debris on a number of roads, especially on the west coast, with reports of the Vazon coast road getting the worst battering. There was also surface water on Les Banques between St Sampson and St Peter Port.
They said: “We would remind drivers to be particularly careful and allow extra time for their journeys at the moment. On many roads, there are small tree branches, dustbins and other property that has been blown onto the roads.”
CT Plus altered bus services accordingly. From the start of services today, all buses avoided the stretch from Pleinmont to Fort Grey, L’Eree, Perelle and Vazon Bay.
At 8am, Guernsey Police reported a fallen tree opposite the Venture Inn, at Ruette de la Generotte, Rue Piette, and o Route du Coudre. They also confirmed L’Eree was inaccessible because of flooding.
By 8.30am, the Guernsey Airport forecourt was closed as a precaution on safety grounds because of a loose roof panel. The main car park remained open.
Before 9am, the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service were dealing with a number of reports of flooding, mainly around the west coast including around the Imperial Hotel and the Pulais Pond.
Following a number of warnings yesterday, which meant many preparations could be made across the Channel Islands, a new red alert storm warning was issued just after 2am for storm force 10 gusts of up to 70 knots.
Ahead of that surge, Jersey Coastguard advised boat owners to check their moorings and vessels if it was safe to do so.
They said: “We have forecasts of 70 knot winds, heavy rain and a coastal flood warning in force. We have already had reports of vessels that have broken their moorings, become swamped and reports of sails and covers getting damaged. Please don’t be the person that we have to call to advise that there boat has gone adrift, sunk or broken up.”
