South East travel delays as wind and rain hits

Strong winds caused travel disruption across the south east on Friday, as passengers faced delays and cancellations.

As Storm Éowyn swept across parts of the UK, the Met Office issued a yellow warning for wind covering Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Some areas saw wind speeds exceed 50mph (80km/h), amid reports of fallen trees and power cuts.

BBC South East senior weather presenter Nina Ridge said conditions were improving on Friday afternoon, “as the winds generated by Storm Éowyn begin to ease”, but a yellow rain warning has been issued for Sunday, with a chance of some localised flooding.

She added the strongest gusts recorded across Kent, Surrey and Sussex were 56 mph (90km/h) at Langdon Bay, 52mph (83km/h) at Shoreham Airport and 48mph (77km/h) at Kenley.

In Sussex on Friday morning, there were cancellations to Southern services between Brighton and Southampton Central.

The B2203 at Maynards Green in East Sussex was partially blocked because of a fallen tree between Sicklehatch Lane and Vines Cross Road.

And rail operator Southern announced an emergency speed restriction of 50mph (80km/h) across the East and West Coastway, as well as up to Preston Park, for the whole day.

Some services between Brighton and Southampton Central terminated at Bognor Regis.

The busy A259 Kingsway seafront road was closed eastbound due to an unsafe building between Walsingham Road and Westbourne Villas.

Flights to and from Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh were cancelled at Gatwick.

BBC weather presenter Kate Kinsella told BBC Radio Surrey: “We’re probably getting away quite lightly in comparison to other areas, but it is still very strong wind.

“More exposed areas, the Downs for example, higher ground, could get a little stronger.

“It is fairly disruptive weather. The rain is fairly heavy this morning as well.”

Andy Jeffery, Kent and Medway Resilience Forum’s (KMRF) tactical lead and head of resilience and emergency planning, said: “There’s always uncertainty with weather and, whilst we should avoid the worst of Storm Éowyn, we could still see wind speeds of around 60mph in some exposed areas.”

He added that the county council and UK power networks were ready to deploy extra staff “to respond quickly to any issues”.

“As we routinely do, the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum is taking guidance from the Met Office and working together to ensure everyone is prepared as they can be.

“Environment Agency teams have also been out clearing trash screens to help ensure rivers can flow and reduce any flood risk,” he said.