WIND and flood warnings have been issued for Jersey with gusts of more than 70mph set to batter the Island tomorrow.
Jersey Met has issued a red-level wind warning – the highest level of alert – ahead of the arrival of Storm Eunice.
It is warning of storm-force ten winds with gusts to 74mph.
Forecasters have also issued an orange tide warning, stating that some coastal flooding may occur during tomorrow morning’s high tide.
The storm system is known as a ‘weather bomb’ – a low pressure system which has undergone explosive cyclogenesis, where its central pressure drops by at least 24mb in 24 hours.
Wind Warning 46/02 issued 14:56 UTC Thursday 17 February 2022 pic.twitter.com/XO2SeGH6m2
— CI Weather Warnings (@Jersey_MetCI) February 17, 2022
The government has said that Victoria Avenue is expected to be closed between 7am and 9am and people are being urged to stay away from the coast.
Condor has already cancelled the Clipper service tomorrow and high-speed crossings tomorrow and Saturday, just as the half-term getaway is set to begin.
A replacement Commodore Clipper sailing has been scheduled from Portsmouth to the Channel Islands on Friday night which will also call into St Malo on Saturday to pick up freight and affected passengers.
Tide Warning for Jersey issued 10:35 UTC Thursday 17 February 2022. pic.twitter.com/PY0DMXgSnY
— CI Weather Warnings (@Jersey_MetCI) February 17, 2022
This is in addition to today’s Condor Liberation and Voyager’s services to Poole and St Malo.
Wet and windy #weather cleared briefly on Wednesday, ahead of #StormDudley which swept further very unsettled conditions in from the west. Gales affected central and northern areas, with the #wind gusting to 81 mph at Capel Curig in Wales pic.twitter.com/NytxnDLB7S
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 17, 2022
Meanwhile, thousands of homes have been left without power after Storm Dudley swept through parts of the UK.
Capel Curig in Wales experienced gusts of up to 81mph, with Emley Moore in West Yorkshire and Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire seeing 74mph winds.
Northern Powergrid said 1,000 properties still had no lights on Thursday morning due to the weather.
UK Met Office chief meteorologist, Frank Saunders, said: ‘An active jet stream is helping to drive low-pressure systems across the country, with both storms set to cause some disruption and National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued.
‘Significant disruption is possible from both Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice with strong winds one of the main themes of the current forecast.
‘The most impactful winds from Dudley will be in the north on Wednesday afternoon, as shown in the amber warning area. Storm Eunice is expected to track eastwards from early on Friday, bringing the most significant winds to the central and southern areas of the UK, with some gusts possible in excess of 95mph in exposed coastal areas.’
