Island returns to normal after storm disruption

WINDY conditions continued to have an impact on Jersey yesterday in the aftermath of Storm Austen… but calmer weather lies ahead.

Although the first ferry services between the Island and St Malo were due to operate yesterday evening, forecast sea conditions in the English Channel led to DFDS cancelling today’s scheduled services to/from Portsmouth.

Route director Chris Parker said the company had been able to maintain the supply line to Jersey, with around 85 trailers of freight arriving on Saturday and a further 120 in the early hours of yesterday.

“Despite the difficult conditions over the past few days, we have been able to maintain the movement of essential supplies into Jersey,” he said.

“This has required considerable planning and close cooperation between our crews, shore teams, Ports of Jersey, Portsmouth International Port, stevedores, customs and our freight customers, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts.

“We also appreciate the patience of passengers whose travel plans have been affected – our focus now is on restoring regular services as quickly as weather conditions allow.”

A major clear-up exercise was continuing yesterday after the Infrastructure and Environment Department logged 174 incidents during Storm Austen as the Island was battered by winds gusting up to 84mph.

Head of highways, transport and infrastructure Tristen Dodd said fallen or damaged trees had been the most significant factor, accounting for 135 of the incidents reported.

“The winds weren’t as strong as Storm Ciarán or Storm Goretti, but the timing was a concern, because the worst of the conditions were timed to coincide with the morning rush-hour and schoolchildren waiting for buses,” he said.

“The fact that there were a lot fewer people on the roads because of the red warning and the closure of schools made it a lot easier for our staff to deal with.

Mr Dodd said he was pleased with the way that the map of severe incidents, first used for Storm Goretti earlier this year, had helped different agencies coordinate the response.

Howard Davis Park, Coronation Park and Sir Winston Churchill Park are set to reopen today, while Jersey Water also confirmed the reopening of paths around Val de la Mare Reservoir following weekend inspections.

The area around Queen’s Valley Reservoir remained closed, but is set to reopen later in the week.

Following minor damage sustained during Friday’s storm, the ice rink at the Weighbridge in St Helier was able to open yesterday as young Islanders marked the start of the half-term holiday.

Jersey Met recorded 34.7 millimetres of rain at Maison St Louis in St Helier across the 24-hour period to 9am on Sunday, the equivalent of a third of the average rainfall figure for October of 106.6mm. It was even wetter at Howard Davis Farm in Trinity, with 45.5mm in the same period.

The forecaster urged Islanders to be wary of the potential for minor disruption in some coastal areas, with high tides of 11.3 metres due tonight at 7.04pm and tomorrow morning at 7.21am.

After reporting on Saturday that 133 customers had experienced power issues in 20 separate incidents across the Island, Jersey Electricity said yesterday that the last remaining customers had their power restored by Sunday.

Following showers this morning, drier and calmer conditions are forecast for the remainder of the week.