The third major storm of the year, Storm Ciaran is due to hit the county of Kent today (Thursday 2nd November 2023). Forecasters predicted that the worst of the weather would be between 6am and 5pm with wind speeds reaching up to 100mph, but the county has already been affected.
Last night the Sheppey Crossing was closed to road traffic due to high winds. Road users were made to use the old crossing onto the island.
Some coastal places are expecting flooding with a metre of storm surge at Dover on the whilst Sheerness on the North Kent coast looks to have a negative surge of a metre in the afternoon. DFDS has cancelled all its ferry crossings from Dover – and P&O has now also suspended its sailings from the port.
A number of roads have already been blocked by falling trees – including the A28 at Chartham, the A229 Angley Road at Cranbrook, the A2070 Willesborough Road in Ashford, Hospital Road in Hollingbourne and Hinxhill Road in Hinxhill. The A259 Dymchurch Road is partially blocked due to a fallen tree between Mill Road (Dymchurch) and Cobsden Road (St Marys Bay). There are also reports of a fallen tree on A2 London bound near Dover.
The Environment Agency is asking people to stay away from piers, promenades and swollen rivers. People are also urged not to drive through a flood as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to sweep your car away.
On Network Rail, all lines through Ramsgate are blocked due to this tree on the line at Kersney. Their teams are on the case and doing everything they can to reopen the railway lines.
