Kitesurfing and Flood Warnings: Sussex in Storm Gerrit – More Radio

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A kitesurfer in Newhaven Harbour at the height of Storm Gerrit (Photo: © John Warburton)

A kitesurfer taking to the rough waves in Newhaven Harbour was among Sussex’s ways of enduring yesterday’s high winds and driving rain from Storm Gerrit.

Two flood warnings remain in place in Sussex today, after the high winds peaked at 63mph on Worthing Pier, 44mph at Shoreham, and 43mph at Herstmonceux.

According to the Environment Agency this morning (December 28), the areas at risk of flooding have not changed for some days.

They are parts of West Dean, Singleton, Charlton, East Dean and Chilgrove, along with the upper River Ems Valley — all in West Sussex.

But in England’s north-west, the storm brought reports of a suspected tornado affecting Tameside in Greater Manchester around 11pm last night.

Stalybridge when the tornado hit it ripped ridge tiles off my roof. pic.twitter.com/AJPM68JisZ

— Keith (@KeithWard233) December 28, 2023

The Met Office confirmed shortly before 7am today that radar data showed the storm had a “strong rotating updraft” suggesting that a tornado at the ground was likely.

Sky News this morning reported that trains and flights across the UK and Ireland were disrupted and cancelled after heavy winds and some snow in northern parts of Scotland. 

Some roads were closed after reports of trees falling and crashes.

Network Rail Scotland said it would keep routes closed until it had a chance to survey tracks by daylight, telling customers to expect this to take several hours. 

Furthermore, some 16,000 homes in Scotland were still without power as of around 10pm last night.

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