Storm causes flooding, water outages and travel chaos
Beach huts at White Rock in Hastings have been damaged in the storm
- Published
Storm Goretti has caused flooding, power cuts, water outages and travel disruption across parts of Sussex and Kent.
Flooding was reported on a coastal road at Cooden Beach in Bexhill, East Sussex, while flood warnings were in place for low-lying coastal areas including Climping, in West Sussex, and Pevensey.
Strong winds have battered the south-east England, with gusts of 47mph recorded at Shoreham late on Thursday and 60mph at Langdon Bay, in Kent, in the early hours of Friday, according to the Met Office.
Ferry operator DFDS said all its services between Dover and France were disrupted.
"All services are currently operating with delays due to strong winds in the Channel," a DFDS spokesperson said.
"Please check-in as normal, we will transfer all passengers onto the first available sailing on arrival. Apologies for any inconvenience caused."
The A259 Sandgate Esplanade Road is closed due to flooding and shingle
A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind in coastal areas of Sussex and Kent was in place from 15:00 GMT on Thursday until 08:00 on Friday.
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have also extended the duration of the current amber cold-health alert until 12:00 on Monday.
UK Power Networks said customers in parts of Sussex and Kent were without electricity on Friday morning, with faults linked to storm damage.
The company said engineers were responding and warned that power could take time to be restored in rural and exposed areas.
Kent County Council said it had cleared floodwater in New Road, East Malling
South East Water has warned Tunbridge Wells customers affected by water supply problems in recent days that storm disruption meant they would experience no water and intermittent supplies on Friday.
"Due to the storm last night, we have experienced outages at a number of water treatment works sites and river water quality issues across Kent and Sussex," incident manager Mike Court said.
Slinfold Primary School, in West Sussex, said it was closed on Friday due to a power cut and subsequent "lack of heating" in the school building.
The village of Bramber, in Horsham, is closed due to flooding. Fire crews are at the scene.
In Sandgate shingle from the beach had been spread across the esplanade.
Local resident Claire Gear said: "Many cars up and down the road have been moved by the force of the wind and rain.
"Conditions like this have not been seen here for over 30 years."
Kent County Council confirmed the A259 Sandgate Esplanade Road was closed between Military Road and Princes Parade.
Meanwhile, the A26 Uckfield Road in Crowborough was closed but has reopened after a fallen tree partially blocked the road.
A wall at Folkestone's Mermaid Beach appeared to have been knocked over in the storm
The National Trust warned against visiting Birling Gap on Thursday due to the impact of Storm Goretti.
Meanwhile, flooding was reported along Herbrand Walk Coastal Road at Cooden Beach, with motorists urged to avoid the area.
Flooding was also reported in Barcombe Mills Road, between the A26 and Barcombe village, while bus services in from Eastbourne were diverted due to flooding in the Cross-in-Hand area, outside Heathfield.
Paul Levitt said the Environment Agency had rebuilt Pevensey beach since the last storm in December
Paul Levitt, Environment Agency beach manager for Pevensey, said there had been some damage from 4.5ft (1.3m) waves.
He told BBC Radio Sussex: "We knew a weather front was coming through and we've been monitoring it all week.
"It has been quite a damaging storm. We had some major erosion with the wave energy so strong, we've had some beach huts moved.
"It could have been worse but we were ready."
A fallen tree blocked the A29 in Watersfield
Meanwhile, Hastings Borough Council said a team had been sent out on Friday morning to assess the damage to the beach.
"Much of the lower promenade is covered in shingle, and the beach huts at White Rock have been damaged. All owners have been contacted and the team is working to secure the huts," the council said.
Several flood alerts remain active, including at Barcombe Mills in Lewes district
The Hove Prom Parkrun event on Saturday has been cancelled due to the route being "inundated with pebbles" which "cannot be swept and cleared in time", organisers said.
The Environment Agency said there were four flood warnings – meaning flooding was expected – were in place at Pevensey seafront, Climping, Alfriston and Barcombe Mills.
There is one flood warning in place for Kent, at the River Beult from Bethersden and Pluckley to Stile Bridge.
Several flood alerts remain active across Sussex and Kent, where flooding is possible.
In Sussex, the alerts cover coastal areas at Seaford; inland areas of the Pevensey Levels; River Rother and its tributaries; River Mole and its tributaries; Upper River Medway and Climping Beach.
The bridge at Lewes Train station has flooded
In Kent, the alerts cover the Medway, Stour, Beult, Bourne, Darent, Eden/Eden Brook and Teise catchments, plus Plenty, Swalecliffe and West Brooks and the River Rother towards the Royal Military Canal.
People living in flood-risk areas have been advised to remain vigilant, avoid driving through flood water and follow guidance from local authorities as clean-up and assessments continue.
The Met Office said winds were beginning to ease on Friday morning but warned coastal areas could continue to see gusts of more than 30mph, along with further heavy rain and large waves.
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