Summary

  • Weather warnings are in place across the East of England due to Storm Ciarán

  • The most severe weather was expected in Essex, but an amber warning for very strong winds has now been downgraded

  • A yellow warning for strong winds or heavy rain is in place in Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Suffolk

  • More than 70 schools have been closed in Suffolk, and a handful in Norfolk

  • Hundreds of homes were without power in Norfolk, and some in Suffolk

Live Reporting

By Laurence Cawley, Alex Pope, Katy Prickett and Rachael McMenemy. Edited by Richard Haugh

  1. Gusts will not be as strong and will end sooner than thought

    We've had a further revision in from the Met Office.

    It says its yellow weather warning, which includes Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, is likely to end earlier than originally thought.

    Its warning has also reduced the expected gust speeds.

    The Met Office said: "Winds are likely to gust to around 50mph in places inland, but perhaps 60 to 65 mph in a few exposed locations, mainly coasts and hills.

    "Very large waves could bring additional impacts to coastal areas.

    "Winds will gradually ease from the west later in the afternoon and through the evening."

  2. Flood warnings issued for villages on the Bure, Ant and Thurne

    The Environment Agency says flooding is now expected for villages on the Bure, Ant and Thurne in Norfolk.

    It was earlier the subject of a flood alert, but that has now been upgraded to a warning.

    The agency said: "This means properties are at risk of flooding.

    "Please take action to protect yourself and your property and monitor local weather and river conditions."

    The villages likely to be affected include Acle, Damgate, Billockby, Bastwick, Martham, Ludham, Hickling, Dilham, Honing, Ant and Thurne.

  3. Orwell Bridge expected to reopen at 12:30 GMT

    The closure of the Orwell Bridge in Ipswich has been felt by commuters across Ipswich and beyond.

    We've just heard from National Highways, which says it expects to reopen the Orwell Bridge at 12.30 GMT.

    Its closure due to high winds has been felt by people on the roads across Ipswich and beyond.

  4. 'I've been a bit of a plonker'

    Amanda Adams's car got stuck travelling between Bildeston and SproughtonShannon Eustace/BBC

    Amanda Adams was travelling from Bildeston to Sproughton, near Ipswich, in her VW Beetle when she got stuck in flood water.

    "I've been a bit of a plonker," she says.

    "I thought it was only a little bit shallow but as I was turning around the corner there was no turning back and I've got stuck up to my door.

    "I don't know who is going to rescue me but I hope somebody will."

  5. The view from Hemsby

    Andrew Turner
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    The view from the Marrams in HemsbyAndrew Turner/BBC

    This is the view this morning from the beach in Hemsby, Norfolk.

    Hemsby is on a vulnerable stretch of Norfolk coastline, where five homes had to be demolished earlier this year.

    Residents in Hemsby were recently told the village did not qualify for "sufficient government funding" to allow a proposed sea defence scheme to progress.

    It is thought the original £15m needed for the project, which was granted planning permission, had risen to about £20m due to inflation.

  6. Yellow weather warning in place until this evening

    The Met Office has put in a yellow weather warning for the East of England, until 17:00 GMT.

    It said: "Strong and potentially disruptive winds associated with Storm Ciarán are possible until late afternoon."

    It said injuries from flying debris were possible and there could be some damage to buildings.

    The affected areas are around Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in Essex, and across Norfolk and Suffolk.

    "Winds are likely to gust to around 50mph in places inland, but perhaps 60 to 65 mph in a few exposed locations, mainly coasts and hills," it added.

    "Very large waves could bring additional impacts to coastal areas. Winds will gradually ease from the west later in the afternoon and through the evening."

    Radar sweep from this morning's forecast

  7. Four schools now closed in Norfolk

    A fourth school in Norfolk has confirmed it will be closed today.

    The decision to close All Saints CE VA Primary in Winfarthing, near Diss, was made because of flooding to the access roads.

    Online learning has been arranged for pupils.

    As reported earlier, more than 70 schools in Suffolk have closed for the day.

  8. Waves crash into Gorleston Pier

    We've been sent this video by BBC Norfolk reporter Andrew Turner, as wind speeds pick up in Gorleston.

    Waves crash into Gorleston pier as Storm Ciarán hits

  9. A glimmer of a blue sky in Essex

    Stuart Woodward
    BBC Essex

    A window has opened here in Thorpe Bay, Essex, filled with blue sky and fluffy white clouds, only to be muscled out of the way a few minutes later by dark brooding clouds and driving rain.

    Thorpe Bay, EssexStuart Woodward/BBC

  10. Orwell Bridge closure results in traffic build up in Ipswich

    Steve Martin
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    The closure of the Orwell Bridge is being felt across Ipswich.

    My 10 minute drive into work took 50 minutes.

    Bishops Hill IpswichSteve Martin/BBC

  11. Weather Watchers capture Storm Ciarán in Essex

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The impact of Storm Ciarán has been captured by BBC Weather Watchers in Essex.

    In Clacton-on-Sea, this image by william clacton shows a very horizontal wind sock.

    Clacton-on-Sea, Essexwilliam clacton

    And in Frinton-on-Sea, Sunny Sim captured some damage to a beach hut, a fallen bin and some dark skies.

    Frinton-on-Sea, EssexSunny Sim
    Frinton-on-Sea, EssexSunny Sim
    Frinton-on-Sea EssexSunny Sim

  12. More than 1,000 homes without power in Norfolk

    As things stand there are about 1,150 homes without power in Norfolk.

    In the Catfield, Ludham and Potter Heigham areas, nine homes have no electricity.

    Around Saxthorpe and Banningham, 1,013 homes are without power, but it is due to return between 09:30 and 10:30 GMT.

    In the Wells area, 13 homes are affected and power is due to return by lunchtime.

    From Horsey to Hemsby and inland to Martham, 115 homes have no power but that could be back within a few hours.

  13. Books on the move suspended amid storm

    Suffolk's mobile libraries are to be kept off the road today because of the weather.

    It is understood the libraries struggled in storm weather previously so the decision to park them out of harm's way today has been made for safety reasons.

    The library buildings remain open for now.

  14. Still strong winds on the south Essex coast

    Stuart Woodward
    BBC Essex

    Storm Ciarán has not put a man off walking his dog on Thorpe Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea.

    Southend-on-SeaStuart Woodward/BBC

    The wind has really picked up on the south Essex coast, driving rain onshore diagonally.

    The masts on the boats at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club are swaying considerably in the challenging conditions.

    Southend-on-SeaStuart Woodward/BBC

  15. Met Office update takes Essex out of amber warning
    Breaking

    A revised amber warning for very strong winds no longer includes south Essex.

    The Met Office said it was restricting the amber warning to East Sussex and Kent because the route of Storm Ciarán was now expected to be slightly further south than originally expected.

    However, yellow rain and wind warnings remain in place for the east coast.

  16. About 70 schools closed in Suffolk

    Kelly McCormack
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    The number of schools in Suffolk staying shut today because of the storm has risen to about 70.

    A full list can be found here.

  17. It's blowing a hooley out here

    Luke Deal
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    I can safely say it is blowing a hooley in Felixstowe, Suffolk, this morning.

    FelixstoweLuke Deal

    The sea has been pretty rough and normally early in the morning you would see about half a dozen dog walkers, but this morning I have only seen one, and even they did not look like they were enjoying themselves.

    FelixstoweLuke Deal

    There has been a little debris on the promenade, but other than that Felixstowe seems to have weathered the storm.

    FelixstoweLuke Deal

  18. Weather forecast for the East of England

    There are a number of weather warnings in place across the East of England, with Essex expected to take the brunt of Storm Ciarán in our part of the world.

    Kate Kinsella has the forecast.

    Weather forecast for the East of England

  19. Trains services still running but with delays

    Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs, says all of Greater Anglia's services are currently operating.

    But he says there are some minor delays and advises passengers to check their route before travelling.

  20. A number of trees have fallen in Essex

    Stuart Woodward
    BBC Essex

    As reported earlier, Essex Police says a tree has fallen down in Clatterbury Lane in Clavering.

    There's also a tree down on the Oakley Road between Little Oakley and Harwich and one between Kelvedon and Silver End.