Storm Ciarán: Sussex braced for strong winds and heavy rain

Huge waves of up to 18 feet are expected to hit the coast today, with gusts of up to 80mph and heavy rain.

An amber weather warning for wind is in place for most of Sussex from 6am until 5pm today, with the Met Office warning of a possible “danger to life” from flying debris.

Damage to homes and power lines is anticipated, along with disruption to road, rail, ferry and air travel.

Parts of Brighton seafront were closed off to the public yesterday and businesses along the coast installed metal barriers in an attempt to protect against a possible storm surge.

Businesses along the seafront have installed barriers to protect against any storm surge (Image: The Argus)

Worthing Pier, the steps of Birling Gap and Raystede animal rescue centre at Ringmer were among places announcing closures due to the stormy weather.

Brighton and Hove City Council urged people to stay away from the seafront as winds intensify, and to avoid parks, woodland and open spaces due to the danger of falling trees.

Residents are advised to close and securely fasten doors and windows and secure loose objects, such as garden furniture, which could be blown away.

The RNLI urged people to exercise caution if they are near the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.

RNLI South East regional water safety lead Guy Addington said: “This rough weather could make visiting our coasts around the South East of England treacherous and bring very dangerous sea conditions.

“Around 150 people lose their lives accidentally in UK and Irish waters each year and over half of these people didn’t plan on ever entering the water.

“We know it can look like fun to get up close to the water’s edge and take selfies or dodge the waves but the sea is unpredictable at the best of times and this is much more dangerous than it looks.”

People have been urged to avoid getting too close to the sea during the stormy conditions (Image: The Argus)

The fire service urged people to stay at home as much as possible for their own safety.

Group manager for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Katie Cornhill said: “What we would prefer, as a fire and rescue service, is that you don’t undertake any sort of travelling at all due to the extreme weather. Only travel when it is absolutely necessary.”

She also warned of the potential for flooding in some areas as rain is due to fall on already saturated ground after a weekend of torrential downpours.

Southern Water has texted and emailed customers with advice and information ahead of the storm.

It said water tanker and bottled water supplies have been put on standby in priority locations and critical maintenance work completed before the storm hits.

"While we can't predict what impact the storm will have we're ready to respond quickly to any issues," a spokesman for Southern Water said.

Ferry services from Newhaven were cancelled today due to the rough conditions. Customers affected by the cancellations by DFDS are being contacted.

DFDS has cancelled ferry services from Newhaven to France due to the storm

Rail companies urged customers to consider changing travel plans or working from home to avoid travel disruption.

Network Rail will apply speed restrictions on services along coastal routes, as well as between the coast and Three Bridges, causing delays of around 20 minutes.

Fewer trains are expected to run between Brighton and Three Bridges, with a reduced service between Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

Gatwick is “monitoring the weather situation closely” and implementing plans in collaboration with airlines as the storm develops.

Train operators have warned of posisble disruption due to the risk of fallen trees and debris blocking rail lines

National Highways has also warned motorists to exercise caution while driving and plan for disruption to journeys.

Amy Shaw, national network manager at National Highways, said: “Driving conditions are likely to change given the Met Office forecasts around Storm Ciarán.

“If you’re using the roads, slow down and give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front. It is harder for tyres to grip the road and excess spray makes it harder to see ahead.

“In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down and drive to the conditions.”

Flood warnings remain in place across the county, with affected residents in Bognor, Hastings and Lewes urged to monitor water levels and weather conditions and start acting on flood plans.

Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said: “Wind and rain warnings associated with Storm Ciarán are in force through until Friday, with further updates possible.

“Very strong winds are expected along southern coastal areas of England in particular, where gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible, perhaps exceeding 85mph in a few exposed locations. Further inland, gusts could reach up to 50 or 60mph.

“As well as strong winds, this deep low-pressure system will bring heavy rain to many parts of the UK.

“Much of southern England look to see the wettest conditions - 20 to 25mm of rain may fall quite widely, with 40 to 60mm possible over higher ground.

“This rain will fall on already saturated ground, bringing the risk of flooding.”

The Environment Agency has warned that large waves could see "significant flooding along parts of the South Coast".

Ben Lukey, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Rain from the storm could also see significant surface water and river flooding across parts of the south until Friday, with minor impacts possible more widely on Saturday due to further showers.

"Environment Agency teams are out on the ground clearing any blocking debris from screens and watercourses, operating flood defence assets where required, working with partners and present in those communities that have experienced flooding, looking to minimise the impact on residents.

"We urge people to stay safe on the coast and to remember to take extreme care on coastal paths and promenades. Flooding of low-lying coastal roads is also possible, and people must avoid driving through flood water, as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."