Storm Eleanor - as it happened: UK counts cost of violent wind and rain as trees uprooted and harbour wall destroyed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The worst effects of Storm Eleanor have passed over the UK, but rain and high wind left a trail of destruction.
Violent gusts of up to 100mph swept across the country, leaving thousands of homes without power and injuring motorists.
Trees were felled and a harbour wall collapsed in Cornwall.
The Met Office said winds would return to their seasonal norm on Wednesday night and Thursday, but warned a band of rain would sweep in from the south-west overnight.
A yellow warning of wind was extended for all of England and Wales, most of Northern Ireland and the Scottish Borders until 7pm on Wednesday after an amber warning was put in place for the early hours.
As the storm bore down on the UK and Ireland, tens of thousands of homes and businesses suffered power outages.
They included 55,000 properties in the Republic and 20,000 customers in Northern Ireland.
Around 2,500 properties between Cornwall and the Midlands were also blighted by power outages, largely due to flying debris, Western Power Distribution said.
Please allow the blog a moment to load
There were roughly 60 incidents reported as Storm Eleanor barrelled across the network overnight, with Mid-Devon experiencing the worst damage, according to a spokeswoman.
Several major bridges were closed due to high winds and there were numerous reports of fallen trees blocking roads including the M25.
Roads became perilous in some areas, with one man injured in Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, when a tree fell on his car, the Welsh Ambulance Service said.
In England, another falling tree injured two men overnight when it crashed into their car, Hampshire Police said.
Officers were called to Lyndhurst Road in the New Forest at around 3.20am, and both occupants of the Ford Focus were taken to hospital by ambulance.
Winds from the storm were particularly powerful in coastal areas, including in Cornwall, where a tide-battered harbour wall in Portreath partially collapsed on Wednesday morning.
Cornwall Police said they were called at around 5.50am due to a very high tide and water coming on to the road.
Closer to shore, cracks began to form in the harbour wall and water poured through it, while some steps collapsed.
A spokeswoman for Cornwall Police said a 25ft to 30ft section was later knocked down further along the wall, but added there was no risk to anybody.
Overturned vehicles forced closures on the A1M near Hatfield in Hertfordshire, the M6 near Lancaster and M5 near Worcester, where a recovery operation was required to clear up the contents of a lorry left spilled on the road.
An object in overhead lines between London Paddington and Hayes reduced the number of trains leaving the major hub, while power outages halted rail services between Letchworth Garden City and Cambridge.
The Met Office said gusts of 100mph were recorded at Great Dun Fell in Cumbria at 1am, while wind speeds reached 90mph at Orlock Head in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.
Gusts up to 89mph were recorded on the Isle of Wight at around midnight, while in Northolt, north-west London, speeds of up to 73mph were detected and 77mph gusts were recorded in High Bradfield, South Yorkshire.
Meteorologist Becky Mitchell said the risk of more "violent storm-force gusts" had lessened, although wind speeds of between 70mph and 80mph could hit some parts.
"Storm Eleanor has swept through and the eye is now crossing the North Sea, although there will continue to be strong gusts through the day," she said.
"We have seen some heavy showers push through across the south of the UK along with hail, loud thunder and lightning, which has woken people up.
"It is possible there will be quite widespread disruption this morning and it is worth checking before you travel."
The Severn River Crossing and the Orwell Bridge in Suffolk were closed in the early hours due to strong winds.
Highways England said there was a possibility that the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge would have to close and the east tunnel of the Dartford Crossing had been shut in case it had to take diverted traffic.
Police forces in Cumbria, Suffolk, Norfolk and Humberside were among those to issue warnings that downed trees had blocked routes.
Isle of Man Police said infrastructure staff worked through the night to remove trees from the roads, while there were multiple reports of roofs coming off buildings, flooding and mud debris.
As well as the problems posed by high winds, the Environment Agency has issued 39 flood warnings and 109 flood alerts, with coastal areas under threat from a combination of a high tide and large waves.
The Thames Barrier was being closed to protect London from swelling tides.
In Cheshire the RSPCA was called to a road in Poynton where a swan had taken up residence in a puddle, blocking traffic
PA
Neil Davies, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, has warned people to not take 'storm selfies'.
"As the unsettled weather continues, large waves combined with high tides could lead to coastal flooding over the next few days, particularly in the west and south-west of England.
"Our frontline teams are on the ground to check and maintain defences and support any communities affected.
"We urge people to stay safe on the coast - take extreme care on coastal paths and promenades, and don't put yourself in unnecessary danger trying to take 'storm selfies'.
"If you're travelling, please check your route before setting off and don't drive through flood water.
"We will issue flood alerts and warnings as necessary, so please check."
Photo credit: PA
A quick update from the Met Office over Wednesday evening's weather forecast.
A stunning image of the coastline in County Clare, western Ireland on Wednesday night as Storm Eleanor took hold.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said it had restored power to 18,000 homes since midnight.
The distributor provides electricity to 3.8 million people across northern Scotland and parts of central England.
It said 700 households were without power for more than six hours and there had been 37 high voltage faults.
A Twitter post from the company said: "Our operational teams are busy repairing damages affecting the remaining customers.
"Thank you all so much for your patience throughout and we're sorry for any inconvenience caused."
Storm Eleanor has managed to bring down a huge tree in Newtown, Wales. The roots appears to have torn through a road on its way down.
A quick update on the impact of Storm Eleanor across the UK:
The UK and Ireland have been left counting the cost of Storm Eleanor after winds tore a destructive trail across the country and plunged thousands of homes into darkness.
Heavy rain and ruinous gusts of up to 100mph swept across England, Wales and the island of Ireland overnight, the effects of which would be felt until Wednesday evening.
Trees caused injuries when they fell on moving cars in several separate incidents.
As the storm bore down on the UK and Ireland, tens of thousands of homes and businesses suffered power outages.
They included 55,000 properties in the Republic and 20,000 customers in Northern Ireland.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, which provides power to 3.8 million people across northern Scotland and parts of central England, said it had restored energy to 18,000 homes since midnight.
The distributor added that 700 households were without power for more than six hours and there had been 37 high voltage faults.
About 2,500 properties between Cornwall and the Midlands were also hit by blackouts, largely due to flying debris, Western Power Distribution said.
A yellow warning of wind was extended for all of England and Wales, most of Northern Ireland and the Scottish Borders until 7pm on Wednesday after an amber warning was put in place for the early hours.
Met Office forecaster Oli Claydon said: "It has left some pretty strong winds in its wake still.
"It will continue to taper off into this afternoon and this evening, but it's certainly starting to quieten down across the UK now, back down to regular winds for this time of year."
The Environment Agency currently has 16 flood warnings in place. Immediate action is required due to expected flooding in the areas of...
- Bosham and West Itchenor
- Bristol Avon (upper) from Chippenham to Melksham
- Cumbrian coastline from Gretna to Silloth including Port Carlisle, Skinburness and Rockcliffe
- Lyme Regis Harbour
- North Bank of the Humber Estuary at Hessle Foreshore
- North Cornwall Coast from Lands End to Chapel Porth
- North Devon Coast at Lynmouth
- North Sea Coast at Hornsea
- Portland Harbour at Ferry Bridge
- River Severn at Sandhurst and Maisemore
- Riverside properties along the tidal River Yare including Cantley, Brundall and Reedham
- Somerset coast at Porlock Weir
- Somerset coast at Portishead and Portbury Dock, seafront properties and Portbury Dock areas
- West Bay Harbour
- Wye Estuary at Brockweir
- Wye Estuary at Elmdale, Chepstow
Visit the Environment Agency's website for more details.
The authority has 120 flood alerts currently in force, meaning flooding is possible in those areas.
Storm Eleanor has brought down a 700-year-old oak tree in Dorset, environmental managers have said.
"King Oak", at Shaggs near Lulworth, was heard to go down at about 3am on Wednesday, the Lulworth Rangers said on Facebook.
"It leaves a huge void in the local landscape, we are all very sad to see it go," the team said.
Campaigners have warned of industrial pollutants washing ashore after the storm passed through.
Cornwall Council has warned people to stay away from "exposed coastal areas" tonight and tomorrow morning after stormy weather caused the partial collapse of a harbour wall.
It said: "Council and Cormac staff have been working throughout the day dealing with the aftermath of #StormEleanor including more than 40 fallen trees and localised surface water flooding throughout Cornwall.
"Most of our work today has been in Portreath following the collapse of a harbour wall to the western side of the village's main car park. A section of the car park is currently closed.
"Council and Cormac crews are currently clearing debris from the collapsed wall and will remain on site during tonight's high tide (around 6.10pm) and ahead of tomorrow morning's spring tide (around 6.30am).
"The community has a local flood plan in place in Portreath and the flood co-ordinators will be contacting residents to offer support and advice."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments