Kent, Sussex and Surrey battered by Storm Ciarán

1. Our live coverage on Thursday 2 November 2023 has come to an end
2. Rain and strong winds buffeted Kent, Sussex and Surrey as Storm Ciarán hits southern England
3. Operation Brock was implemented on the M20
4. The Port of Dover suspended sailings but has now reopened to shipping
5. Power cuts have hit areas, including Firle, East Hoathly and Alfriston
6. Some visitor attractions, including RHS Garden Wisley and Worthing Pier, were closed due to the weather

That's all from us

That brings an end to our live updates for today as heavy rainfall and winds brought a lot of disruption across the South East.

You can read more information on Storm Ciarán in the region by clicking on Kent, Sussex or Surrey.

Thanks for joining us.

Storm Ciarán: The day in summary

Shutterstock

• Rain and strong winds have been buffeting the South East all day
• Thousands of homes were left without power as Storm Ciarán hit Kent, Sussex and Surrey
• The rail network was severely disrupted with people advised to work from home
• The Port of Dover was closed for much of the day and Operation Brock brought in on the M20 for queuing lorries
• Dozens of schools did not open
• A weather warning for heavy rain remains in place until midnight

Keeping the cows safe

Yvette Austin

Environment Correspondent, BBC South East

BBC

This evening on a farm up on the South Downs above the River Cuckmere in East Sussex, the wind is howling around the barns, the rain is pouring down and it feels a very hostile environment. The Cuckmere has burst its banks and much farmland is under water.

The Environment Agency has a pump in place at Alfriston to protect homes, but one farmer I spoke to says 250 acres of his land is under water and he expects much more of the area to flood tonight.

There is a small amount of shelter here and at least it isn’t pitch dark.

Emergency work after trees flatten fence

Hannah Roe

BBC South East

Kent Wildlife Trust had emergency tree work to do at Dover Castle.

Six dead ash trees came down on a fence, flattening it in some areas.

The field is currently being grazed by sheep so fence repairs were needed to prevent escapes.

BBC

Brighton: Storm causes city centre road closure

Danny Pike

BBC Radio Sussex

North Street is closed after reports of damage to a roof.

Tugs used to bring ferries into port

PA Media

Ferry company DFDS has apologised to any customers who had planned to travel today from Dover, saying the suspension of its services was a "very rare thing".

A spokesman said: "As the storm has calmed a bit, ships are getting into the ports again one by one using tug boats for additional safety.

"As soon as the storm quietens down, we can increase the number of vessels getting into the port at any one time.

"We are prepared to put in additional sailings to ensure we get everyone on their way as soon as it is safe to do so."

Listen: Car found flooded in Horsham

Lucinda Adam

BBC Radio Sussex

Jack has lived at Gorringes Brook in Horsham for over three years.

Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire takes a battering

The Battle of Britain Memorial

The Battle of Britain Memorial near Capel le Ferne in Kent says its replica Spitfire has taken a "battering" in the storm.

A spokesman said: "The replica was blown off its wheels by the strong winds that carved their way through the site overnight, leaving it sitting on buckled undercarriage.

"We'll have the Spitfire looking as good as new as soon as we can."

What does the weather have in store for us?

Nina Ridge

BBC Weather

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

We have got some more rain this evening but after midnight this should have cleared the east Kent coast.

Tomorrow will be bright and breezy with just a few scattered showers.

The next low pressure system on Saturday is forecast to bring another 20-30mm of rain.

With the ground saturated, there is the potential for further flooding and the Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning covering parts of Kent and Sussex.

Listen: River Mole prone to flooding at Leatherhead

Adrian Harms

BBC Radio Surrey

Adrian Harms reports from the town centre where the River Mole is prone to flooding

Port of Dover delays as Storm Ciarán lashes Kent

By Rosie Blunt & Christian Fuller

BBC News

Floods and power cuts in Surrey amid Storm Ciarán

By Christian Fuller

BBC News

Flooding in Hellingly

Hanna Neter

BBC Radio Sussex

BBC

There are several areas of flooding from the River Cuckmere in Hellingly, East Sussex.

Fields nearby are submerged.

Dr Colin Tourle and his wife Jane have been living in Mill Lane for 50 years.

Their garden has water rushing through it, and the road outside is impassable.

He says their home has been flooded more often since new housing developments were built nearby.

He said: “The water comes up more quickly and it’s definitely got worse over the last 30 years.”

He added that areas that didn’t previously flood in Hellingly now have problems and it’s “immensely sad”.

Homes without power in Sussex as Storm Ciarán hits

By Rosie Blunt & Christian Fuller

BBC News

More than 1,700 homes still without power

UK Power Networks

More than 1,700 homes across Kent and Sussex are still without power after Storm Ciarán hit.

According to UK Power Networks at 16:00 GMT the number of properties without power were as follows:

Kent 1,049

East Sussex 390

West Sussex 217

The company said its teams were working hard to fix the damage caused by the severe weather.

Here's the latest weather forecast

Elizabeth Rizzini

BBC Weather

As the impact of Storm Ciarán continues to be felt across Kent, Sussex and Surrey, here's the latest UK weather forecast.

Storm Ciarán: Latest weather forecast

Train services severely disrupted for evening rush hour

Southeastern

Train companies across the region have been advising passengers not to travel all day unless absolutely necessary.

Southeastern said that Storm Ciaran has been causing "severe disruption" to many of its services.

At 16:30 GMT it specifically mentioned disruption between Ashford, Dover and Ramsgate because of a signalling problem at Dover.

Southern said Network Rail had applied speed restrictions to all trains on coastal routes, and between the south coast and Three Bridges.

It said services would be disrupted for the rest of the day.

Both Southern and Southeastern said they expect to run a normal service on Friday.

In Pictures: Brighton battered by Storm Ciarán

It was weather for seagulls on Brighton seafront as Storm Ciarán hit, bringing a high tidal surge which broke over Brighton Marina and smashed on to the pier.

Credit EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Weather prevents ferries from loading at Dover

BBC

Ferries departing from Dover have been unable to load because of the severe weather conditions.

P&O Ferries posted on social media that it "could not safely load and sail while the weather conditions remain as they are".

The company said it would update customers when it had more information.

The Port of Dover has been closed for car passengers all day because of Storm Ciarán.

It reopened for freight traffic earlier this afternoon.

The backlog of lorries has caused Operation Brock to be implemented on the M20.

BreakingOperation Brock implemented on M20

PA Media

Operation Brock, the traffic-holding system for lorries queueing to cross the English Channel, is being brought in on the M20 because of the adverse weather conditions.

The motorway is being closed coastbound between junction eight near Maidstone and junction nine at Ashford due to the earlier closure of the Port of Dover.

The closure will allow freight bound for the continent to queue on the empty section of motorway in order to keep any disruption to the wider Kent road network to a minimum, Kent Police said.

"All EU-bound freight must use the M20 whilst all other traffic must follow the signed diversions," a spokesman said.