ISLANDERS are being urged to prepare for “severe conditions” as Jersey is set to be hit by extreme weather which could be as bad as the Great Storm of 1987.
Storm Ciarán – an intense and rapidly deepening area of low pressure known as a “weather bomb” – will barrel across the Channel Islands overnight tomorrow and Thursday morning, bringing winds of up to storm-force-ten gusting to 90mph.
Forecasters are also warning of possible flooding – from both heavy rain and a storm surge sending waves crashing over sea walls.
The Island’s Tactical Co-ordination Group – comprising representatives from the emergency services, the Coastguard, and government departments including Education and Infrastructure – met yesterday to discuss how to respond to the storm.
A series of red weather warnings are also due to be issued during the next 24 hours.
In a statement released late yesterday afternoon, emergency planning officer Kevin Murphy urged Islanders to be “prepared for severe conditions”.
He added: “A pan-island Tactical Co-ordination Group is currently engaged in an extensive review of potential risks associated with an impending severe weather disruption regarding Storm Ciarán forecast to affect the Island from late Wednesday and through Thursday.
“This is an active situation, and we are closely monitoring the evolving weather patterns and will be releasing further instructions and advice through our official channels in due course.
“We urge everyone to remain vigilant and prepared for severe conditions.
“Further updates will follow, and Islanders are requested to adhere to any further guidance issued.”
Meanwhile, Condor has cancelled numerous crossings and the Coop is warning of disruption to supplies.
Matt Winter, senior meteorologist manager at Jersey Met, said: “The storm will be similar to the 1987 storm in terms of its central pressure and general wind strength, but at the moment we are not expecting the gusts to be as strong.
“At the moment we are expecting gusts of 80mph to 90mph or possibly a little bit higher, and the strongest gust that was recorded in 1987 was 98mph.
“It is always tricky to say how much damage there will be, but we are expecting significant disruption.”
The winds are set to increase tomorrow night, blowing from the south and reaching gale-force-eight to severe-gale nine – possibly storm-force-ten with gusts to 70mph by Thursday morning.
But the worst of the winds are set to hit between dawn and midday on Thursday after swinging around to the west to south-west.
Condor is warning of “significant disruption” over the next week as Storm Ciarán – and the second forecast storm this weekend – generates 26ft waves in the English Channel.
All high-speed services until at least next Tuesday are set to be cancelled and conventional services are likely to be either cancelled or disrupted from Thursday.
The company has altered sailings and transferred passengers onto earlier crossings, and is “evaluating options for maintaining the provision of food and medicines to the islands”.
Kenny McDonald, acting chief retail operations officer at the Channel Islands Coop, said: “We are aware of the expected forecasts and are taking all steps we can to mitigate any potential issues.
“Unfortunately, due to the expected forecast, we can expect disruptions to supply across both islands for goods being received.
“We would like to reassure shoppers that steps are being taken to minimise any negative impact.”
The UK Met Office has also warned of major disruption across swathes of southern Britain as Ciarán moves inland.
The storm is known as a weather bomb as its central pressure will drop by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours – a process which significantly increases its intensity.
Organisers of the St Martin’s bonfire said that this weekend’s event was “highly likely” to be postponed by a week but a final decision would be made tomorrow.
