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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Jamie Griersonand Kevin Rawlinson

Snow, high winds and flooding bring travel chaos to Britain - as it happened

Huge waves hit coastal areas as Britain faces winter storms

Relief as flood threatened areas largely spared

Thousands of people along England’s east coast have been evacuated from their homes as life-threatening floods were expected to hit towns and villages at the high tide.

But, while many are forced to spend tonight in shelters, there has been relief for most of them as the tide came and went without the storm surge causing as much damage to their communities as had been feared in most areas.

There was some flooding along the Yorkshire coast and people in Essex are still crossing their fingers late into the night, with the worst set to hit in the early hours of this morning.

But, while Norfolk fire and rescue service said it attended a few incidents to “assist with flooding”, the area - which was expected to be the worst hit - seemed to have been largely spared.

This live blog is now closing.

Flooding fears subside in most areas

It appears that many of the at-risk areas may be breathing a sigh of relief as the storm surge passes without as much damage as had been feared. In Essex, however, fingers are still being crossed as residents await the high tide.

In Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk, the risk of flooding was expected to peak at around 9.30pm but the worst fears of the people in the area were not realised.

“The river did get pretty high but I didn’t think it would ever go over the walls. I guess it was a lot of panicking but you can’t be too careful”, said Charles Osborne, 52.

High tide in the areas of Essex expected to be hardest hit - Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea - is expected at 15 minutes past midnight.

Updated

While Great Yarmouth may have escaped the worst of the flooding predicted for this evening, Whitby was not quite as lucky.

A man clears foam covered sea water away from drains as a tidal surge causes flooding in Whitby.
A man clears foam covered sea water away from drains as a tidal surge causes flooding in Whitby. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Video footage posted on social media showed water running down streets in the town, turning them into fast-running streams.

Members of a coastguard rescue team members help to clear streets littered with debris in Whitby as a tidal surge at high tide causes flooding.
Members of a coastguard rescue team members help to clear streets littered with debris in Whitby as a tidal surge at high tide causes flooding. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

The Press Association’s reporter on the ground suggests Great Yarmouth may have got away with the worst of this evening’s predicted storm surge:

A man has been arrested for public order offences after jumping into the river in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk police say.

Officers were alerted to a man acting dangerously next to the River Yare near Haven Bridge at around 9.10pm. When asked to move away from the water for his own safety, the man jumped in. Police say he was recovered from the water immediately and arrested.

“Despite numerous warnings from police and our partner agencies to stay away from the water, a small number of people do not seem to be taking this message seriously,” Supt Dave Buckley said.

“Whilst we appreciate scenes of high water and strong waves can be impressive, it poses a significant danger and we would urge people to stay away for their own safety. Anyone who does attempt to get too close to the water in these areas will be moved on by officers.”

In Essex, blow-up beds have been inflated and blankets and pillows handed out, as those at the centre began to settle in for the night.

Gavin Mack prepares to bed down with his family at the Tendring educational centre in Jaywick, Essex.
Gavin Mack prepares to bed down with his family at the Tendring educational centre in Jaywick, Essex. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Gavin and Lesley Mack from St Osyth, which is about a mile and a half from Jaywick, said they were told at around 6.30pm by police to evacuate. “We were prepared. They evacuated everyone yesterday - we knew it was going to happen - so we loaded the van and waited for the police,” said Gavin Mack.

The couple, who have five children between the ages of three and 15, told the Press Association they were “not worried” about their home flooding and that they would have stayed at home if it was not for their offspring.

With a classroom set aside for the family of seven, Gavin Mack said: “They are going out of their way and making a room for us so the kids can go to bed.”

Lesley Mack added: “At the end of the day, they have not got to do it - they have done everything so well.”

Updated

A few of the less serious flood warnings in England have subsided, though the 17 severe warnings - where there is a danger to life - remain in place. In the past hour, one flood warning - those requiring immediate action - and two flood alerts have been cancelled.

Updated

The rest centre at Tendring can welcome dogs but it cannot cater for snakes and bearded dragons, meaning that 51-year-old Tracey Edwards is going to try to stay put.

According to the Press Association, the police have told her to try to get some sleep now so she can be alert between midnight and 2am, which is when the tidal surge is expected to peak.

“It is mostly the elderly that have gone, a few people have had family come and pick them up, but most people are staying in,” she said.

Updated

Some striking pictures coming in:

Cars make their way over Standedge summit on the A62 at dusk above the village of Diggle in northern England, on 13 January.
Cars make their way over Standedge summit on the A62 at dusk above the village of Diggle in northern England. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
Restaurant workers look on as the street outside is flooded as a tidal surge causes flooding on 13 January 2017 in Whitby.
Restaurant workers look on as a tidal surge causes flooding in Whitby. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Updated

Train passengers heading to and from Lowestoft will not be able to travel after approximately 8pm, Greater Anglia and Network Rail have said.

Lowestoft train station and the lines that run into and out of the station are closing early. Suffolk police has asked the two organisations to evacuate the station and close the lines for safety reasons.

Network Rail’s area route director, Steve Hooker, said: “We have been monitoring the weather and flooding situation throughout today. In consultation with the emergency services, we have jointly taken a decision to close the line early to keep passengers safe.

“Our orange army is on standby to inspect the line, make any necessary repairs and reopen it as soon as the anticipated flooding has subsided.”

Updated

North Yorkshire fire and rescue service said crews were dealing with flooding in Sandsend, an area where high tides were expected to cause problems this evening. A spokesman said the service had set up command hubs in strategic locations.

In Bridlington, however, the high tide passed “without serious incident”, though Humberside police said high waves had been reported along the coast.

East coast: 17 severe warnings still in place

You can keep abreast of the Environment Agency’s flood warnings here. As things stand, there are still 17 severe warnings along the east coast of England, where experts believe there is a risk to life.

Updated

The St John ambulance says its crews are on standby as more bad weather is forecast:

St John Ambulance crews are being mobilised around the country to help support communities affected by the bad weather.
St John Ambulance crews are being mobilised around the country to help support communities affected by the bad weather. Photograph: PR

Evacuees have begun arriving at a rest centre in Tendring, Clacton.

Set up by the district council, the educational centre can cater for more than 1,000 people who are leaving Jaywick.

Nigel Brown, from Tendring district council, told the Press Association the rest centre was first set up on Thursday afternoon for those being evacuated by emergency services.

The main issue at that time was going to be the lunchtime high tide... that turned out not to be an issue. We now have an issue with the tide around 11pm tonight and that looks to be serious.

The aim is to get as many people in here today as we can. We had 17 people stay here overnight and, so far, we have registered at least 85 people. And we would expect another couple of hundred to come through by tonight.

He added that the centre had taken in more than 30 dogs so far.
Simon Scott, 58, moved to the coastal village 15 months ago, making this his first flood and evacuation. He was at the centre with his dog Charlie. “I would not come here without him - I would have stayed at home, I would not have left my dog,” he said.

Sisters Harriet Woods, 87, and Jean Williams, 79, had just returned from a holiday in Potters-on-sea on Friday morning, only to head straight to the rest centre.

Keeping up to date with the unfolding situation on the news before arriving home, Williams said: “Obviously, we are worried but you can’t do anything about it.”

The pair, who are regular Friday bingo players, were happy to discover there would be a game at the centre later that evening and were not phased at the prospect of sleeping in an armchair. “For one night, it does not matter,” Williams said.

Asked about worries over looting, Barbara Parsons, who has lived in Jaywick for 30 years, said residents have “got to take the chance” of leaving their homes.

“All the bad things they say about Jaywick, it is not really true. The community is very good and people are very good to each other. Even on the way down here, our taxi with Dial-a-Ride, they gave it to us for free – they wouldn’t take any money,” Parsons said.

Updated

In order to better understand coastal flooding, staff at the University of Southampton, the National Oceanography Centre and the British Oceanography Data Centre have compiled a database of UK coastal flood events.

You can view “SurgeWatch” here.

British Red Cross volunteers are responding in 10 rest centres across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. So far, 25 volunteers and two staff members have been deployed and they have seen more than 120 people who have been evacuated from their homes.

Mike Adamson, the British Red Cross chief executive, said his thoughts were with the families affected. “Being evacuated from your home can be incredibly stressful, especially when you don’t know what you may be going back to,” he said.

Sam and Miriam Galea were among those evacuated from their home on the Essex coast last night, and are now at the rest centre in Jeywick. Sam said:

We were evacuated last night at 9.30pm by the police, who brought us to the rest centre. Even though it’s been a crisis situation to be evacuated from our home, we’ve had lots of teas, breakfasts, sandwiches, and been incredibly well looked after.

Miriam, who has Parkinson’s disease, said it was particularly good to have Red Cross volunteers on the scene, with experience of looking after people with health conditions.

Merle Johnson, from Colchester, who has been a Red Cross volunteer for four years, is the team leader at the rest centre in Jaywick. She said:

We arrived at 7am to find that there were mainly older people here. Some had stayed overnight, some had come in at 8am this morning. There was a lot of support from different parts of the community, including the council, social workers, and people who work with the elderly. We’ve been going around and checking what people’s needs are and sometimes just sitting with them and having conversations about their concerns and giving support and encouragement. Mainly we’re supporting older people so teas and coffees and toast are the order of the day. It’s a very calm environment and we’re pleased to be able to offer people some comfort.

Updated

The number of severe warnings issued by the Environment Agency (EA) is up again and now stands at 17. Residents in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are most under threat.

The east coast will be hit by the storm surge during the second high tide with gale-force winds and higher than usual tides expected to bring waves crashing over coastal defences.

Evacuations are under way in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Jaywick, Mistley and Mersea in Essex, and residents in 1,800 properties in East Suffolk are also being told to leave their homes.

The risk of flooding in Great Yarmouth is expected to peak at 9.30pm, Norfolk police said. The force is working with the fire service and the army to visit more than 5,000 properties in the coastal town ahead of a storm surge at high tide.

In Suffolk there is potential for severe flooding from 9.30pm, with Lowestoft and Waveney expected to be the worst affected areas, police said.

Updated

Norfolk police have said that around 80 people are also being evacuated from the village of Walcott.

Make sure to check the latest forecast from the Met Office before clocking off for the weekend.

Delays of more than an hour are being reported on ferries between Dover and Calais and Dover and Dunkerque.

About 100 soldiers from the Catterick army base have been deployed to Skegness, the Ministry of Defence said.

Three schools in Norfolk and nine schools in Lincolnshire, including five in Skegness, have also been closed for the day.

Floods minister Therese Coffey said:

Our absolute priority is protecting lives, homes and businesses from the serious threat of coastal flooding currently facing the east coast.

That is why we have soldiers on the ground helping to warn and evacuate people alongside the emergency services and Environment Agency teams, who are working round the clock to make sure our permanent defences are working well and temporary defences are in place where necessary.

Updated

Suffolk police have identified around 1,880 properties at risk from the weather.

The EA has moved more than five miles (8km) of temporary barriers and 25 pumps to depots and towns along the east coast, while the Chief Fire Officers Association said it had mobilised 15 fire and rescue services to assist in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Humberside.

While the first high tide in the early hours of Friday passed without major incident, there were fears that the second tide on Friday evening could be higher than anticipated.

EA national duty manager Mark Sitton-Kent said:

The combination of gale-force winds, high tides, dangerous waves carrying rocks and a coastal surge means parts of the east coast are extremely dangerous.

We have issued severe flood warnings and urge everyone to check their flood risk and ensure they are in a safe place.

Updated

Mike Penning, the minister for the armed forces, has praised troops who have been deployed to areas that are at risk. He said:

We like to be in front of the problems, but traditionally we have always waited for the problems to come. Now we have tried to get in first – to be there alongside the other emergency services – and I’m really proud of what our troops are doing today.

Updated

As a precaution, North Yorkshire council has announced a number of road closures in preparation for high tide.

They include the A174 in Sandsend; the Pier Road and Church Street in Whitby and Royal Albert Drive, Sandside, Foreshore Road and the Spa approach road in Scarborough.

Updated

Scarborough and Ryedale Search and Rescue (SRMRT) have tweeted a picture of them arriving on the Yorkshire coast in preparation for the high tide and potential flooding.

I’m leaving the blog now, thanks for reading. I’m handing over duties to Nadia Khomami who will be with you soon.

North Yorkshire’s coastal residents have been warned to prepare for large tidal surges on Friday afternoon.

Tourists and locals are being asked to avoid walking on coastal paths and promenades with large waves expected to crash into land at around 4pm.

High tides are expected to particularly affect Sandsend, Whitby and Scarborough.

Residents are being urged to be prepared and start building flood defences with sandbags to protect their homes.

Harbour walls and piers at Whitby and Scarborough have been cordoned off to prevent access.

Updated

Five cars have been damaged and a road has been closed after a collision in Bacup, Lancashire.

Police were called to Venture Street at 10.30am today to reports that a car skidded down the hill and collided with a number of parked cars.

The road has now been closed off from Tong Lane to Thorn Bank.

Bacup PCSO Chris Hamer posted on Twitter: “Please avoid Tong Lane, Bacup, as we currently have a five-vehicle RTC. We are awaiting gritters.”

Updated

Here’s some dramatic footage from PA’s Tom White.

Essex police have insisted they are not “crying wolf” as they urged residents in the coastal communities of Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea to evacuate their homes immediately.

A full evacuation planfor the coastal communities was triggered at around 11am on Friday ahead of severe flooding expected overnight, with high tide due at 12.15am.

By early afternoon evacuees were beginning to arrive at emergency “rest centres” set up in Clacton and West Mersea.

Essex police Ch Insp Russ Cole said the force had not taken the decision to evacuate lightly. “We are not crying wolf,” he said. “We have taken a carefully considered assessment. We can’t force people to leave their homes but there is a real and present risk.”

Some residents facing evacuation have expressed concerns about looting, but Cole said there would be increased police patrols around empty properties.

“If anyone thinks they can come with a van and commit crime in any of these areas they are wrong. We are doing stop checks and criminals are more likely to be arrested today when there are 200 extra officers on the ground.”

To those who chose not to evacuate the town he said: “If you are contacted by police please do listen, they are saying this for a reason. Stay with friends or family or come to the rest centre with your pets – there really is no reason to stay behind.”

Updated

The number of severe flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency is up again, now at 16.

There are currently 16 severe flood warnings – which indicate danger to life – 87 warnings and 57 alerts in force in England and Wales.

Updated

Gale force winds have forced the cancellation of ferry services from the Scottish mainland to islands such as Mull by ferry operator CalMac and led to the rescheduling of other lifeline services to the Western Isles.

CalMac has announced a series of timetable changes and cancellations on its Twitter feed.

The number of road closures has grown following heavy snow affecting higher routes in the Scottish Borders and Highlands, BBC Scotland’s travel service has said.

Snow gates on A93 Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar road through the Cairngorms have been closed, while the A699 linking Selkirk to St Boswells in the Border is also shut.

Meanwhile, HM Coastguard, which helps coordinate mountain rescues, urged climbers and walkers to take great care in the Scottish Highlands during the adverse weather after a spate of incidents in recent weeks. They needed to choose routes very carefully and warn people of their plans.

In a blog on its website, the Coastguard’s Superintendent Colin Gough said:

Our mountains should not be underestimated as they can be unforgiving for even the most experienced. Severe weather conditions forecast in the coming days could change your environment within minutes and navigation could become difficult. White-out snow conditions could also make paths and tracks dangerously impassable.

A motorist avoided a serious collision after a 50ft falling tree missed his car by inches in a winter blizzard, reports MEN Media.

Kevin Phoenix was driving along Marsland Road in Sale when the tree came crashing down in strong winds and sleet just after he passed.

The fallen tree, thought to weigh several tonnes, appears to have damaged a brick wall on its way down, but only just missed a row of houses.

Father-of-four Phoenix, 48, from Brooklands, Sale, said after the drama on Friday morning:

Who said Friday the 13th is unlucky? It hasn’t been for me and the people in the houses. Thank God I put my lucky socks on that I got off my children for Christmas. It’s unbelievable that no one was hurt and no cars or homes were damaged.

Updated

British Red Cross volunteers in Essex are supporting around 60 people evacuated from their homes in Jaywick.

The charity has five volunteers at Tendring Education Centre in Clacton. It is also providing support in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

The rest centre was opened by Tendring district council and the Red Cross is working as part of a multi-agency response.

Merle Johnson, from Colchester, has been a Red Cross volunteer for four years. He is the team leader at the rest centre, where she says there are around 60 people at the moment.

We arrived at 7am to find that there were mainly older people here. Some had stayed overnight, some had come in at 8am this morning.

There was a lot of support from different parts of the community, including the council, social workers, and people who work with the elderly.

We’ve been going around and checking what people’s needs are and sometimes just sitting with them and having conversations about their concerns and giving support and encouragement.

Mainly we’re supporting older people so teas and coffees and toast are the order of the day. It’s a very calm environment and we’re pleased to be able to offer people some comfort.

Updated

The number of severe flood warnings issued by Environment Agency has risen again and now stands at 14.

There are currently 14 severe flood warnings – meaning danger to life – 89 warnings and 63 alerts in force in England and Wales.

Updated

A regional newspaper editor I used to work for used to say if there was no news, write about the weather. Well, the Plymouth Herald appears to have even found a way of writing about the weather when there’s no weather to write about.

Updated

More troops sent to Norfolk coast

Updated

'We are not crying wolf' – Essex police chief

Updated

The Environment Agency has moved more than 5 miles (8km) of temporary barriers and 25 pumps to depots and towns along the east coast.

It said the army was on standby to assist with its response to any flooding.

EA’s national duty manager Mark Sitton-Kent said: “The combination of gale-force winds, high tides, dangerous waves carrying rocks and a coastal surge means parts of the east coast are extremely dangerous.

“We have issued severe flood warnings and urge everyone to check their flood risk and ensure they are in a safe place.

“Our thoughts are with all those who are currently facing another uncertain day and night.

“We ask anyone tempted to go to the coast for a thrill or to take pictures to stay away - you would be putting yourself in unnecessary danger.”

Updated

IT manager Darren Clegg was facing his second night at the Tendring rest centre, after being evacuated last night from the nearby St Osyth’s beach caravan park.

He said he was told he didn’t have to be evacuated but was left with the impression that people who didn’t leave would be penalised.

Because he had had a glass of wine he could not drive, so walked three miles to pick up his car today. When he arrived the caravan park was shut and he couldn’t retrieve it, so he hitch-hiked back to the centre.

“I’m ok with spending another night here,” he said, adding that tonight he was going to try to avoid the snoring man who had kept him awake last night. “We’ve been very well looked after, there is food and tea, we had mattresses and sleeping bags so I can’t complain.”

He said that there had not been any clear information this morning, and he had got updates from journalists covering the story.

With a mi-fi connection he was taking the opportunity to work, and was trying not to think about the fate of his car and caravan. “I am not really worried- what will be, will be. We are all in the same position and I’ll just deal with it when it happens.”

Barry Dawson, 66, and Brenda Horwood, 74 came to the rest centre today in the hope of getting more information. The couple were worried about their bungalow that they have just finished renovating after 16 months.

Police had not called on them or posted an information leaflet, they said.

“My nan and grandad were floating around on an upturned table on Canvey Island in ‘53 so we’re not going to take any risks,” he said. He called the information availed “abysmal”.

“We’re alright, we’ve got the van and I’m a bit of a boy scout but the old people on our street, they can’t get out on their own. I’ve asked people here for information but they can’t tell me if my house is in the red zone or even when high tide is.”

Updated

Local authorities have triggered emergency measures to help rough sleepers as temperatures drop below zero. The emergency trigger– severe weather emergency protocols (SWEP) – means more outreach teams are sent onto the streets across England and Wales and local hostels put up more beds by using up all available space. “It’s a real lifesaving emergency situation,” said a spokeswoman for St Mungo’s.

Updated

Some images from PA reporter Georgina Stubbs in Jaywick.

Briefly looking ahead, the weekend weather looks quite different.

Fifteen fire services across the country have been mobilised to assist with bad weather across the UK, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association said.

Powered boats, high volume pumps capable of pumping 7,000 litres of water a minute and rescue teams have all been mobilised across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Humberside to protect the public threatened by tidal surge.

Fire services currently deployed include Surrey, Bedfordshire, London Fire Brigade, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hereford & Worcester, West Midlands, Nottinghamshire, Oxford, Cumbria, South Wales, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

Assets currently deployed include fire service boats, non-fire service boats, tactical advisers, flood rescue teams, high volume pumps and command units.

Updated

Jaywick evacuation is under way, Essex police say

The delayed evacuation of homes in Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea, in Essex, has begun due to the expectation of severe flooding overnight.

A severe flood warning is in place for Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea for high tide tonight at 12.15am in the early hours of Saturday. A full evacuation plan for the communities was triggered at 10.40am, Essex police said.

Ch Insp Russ Cole said:

I need residents in Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea to comply with police instruction and evacuate immediately. Latest forecasting tells us that risk has moved to the next high tide expected just after midnight. That threat has led to a severe flood warning being put in place for tonight’s high tide.

Keeping people safe is our only priority and we will be evacuating residents from Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea and need people to comply with our instructions.

That evacuation is most safely executed in daylight hours. We are activating our evacuation plans and are working closely with other partners including the other emergency services, local authorities, health and social care.

A rest centre has been established at Tendring Education Centre, Jaywick Lane, Clacton to accommodate Jaywick residents. Residents in Mistley will also be evacuated to Tendring Education Centre.

A rest centre at the Mica Centre, 38a High Street, West Mersea will be able to accommodate Mersea residents until their homes are deemed safe.

Police officers speak to a driver in Jaywick earlier this morning.
Police officers speak to a driver in Jaywick earlier this morning. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Updated

Here are the top five “how-to” searches on flooding, according to Google Trends.

People in 5,000 Norfolk homes told to leave

Residents in about 5,000 properties in Norfolk have been told to leave their homes, police said, and the number could rise to 7,000 later in the day.

Supt Dave Buckley said: “A multi-agency co-ordinating group has been convened twice to ensure appropriate plans and resources are in place.

“The group is planning for potential disruption for a prolonged period of up to 12 hours and households in those affected areas should be mindful of this.

“I would also urge members of the public not to put themselves at risk by gathering near to the water’s edge to watch the waves. While I accept they may be impressive, you are putting yourself in danger’s way. We would ask people to keep away from the seafront and flood water.”

A spokesman for Norfolk county council said three schools were closed. Two were being used in the flood effort: Caister cademy has been turned into an emergency flood evacuation centre and Cliff Park Ormiston Academy into a rest centre.

Updated

Eight fire and rescue teams are on standby at Jaywick’s Martello tower, a firefighter has told me.

A smaller team at the community centre is monitoring the situation at the sea wall.

The firefighter told me fire crews were in place to support the police, and the operation was in phase two.

Officers and firefighters knocked on doors last night to gather information about who was staying and who was going.

“If people decide to stay, you can’t do anything to make them,” he said.

Updated

Nine schools in Lincolnshire, including five in Skegness, have been shut for the day, according to the county council.

The authority also said the A52 has been closed between Mablethorpe and Trusthorpe as a precaution.

Great Yarmouth’s Sea Life centre, which is in the area covered by a severe flood warning, remains open.

A spokesman for the seafront tourist attraction said: “We haven’t known it [the sea] to come over for many, many years, so I think it is all right.”

Updated

Eurostar has cancelled two trains between London and Paris due to “weather conditions” in south-east England and northern France.

A spokeswoman for the firm said all affected passengers were offered seats on other trains.

Lincolnshire police chief Neil Rhodes said: “We are relieved that we have got through the night time without a significant incident, but we have got to remain vigilant and on the case for the rest of today.

“We are looking through from now to 6pm when the next raft of high tide reaches the Lincolnshire coast and we have got to look out for that storm surge.

“Please do not go down to the sea defences, it’s a very dangerous place to be.

“We aren’t out of the woods yet but, fingers crossed, we’ll be able to see through this storm surge together very soon.”

Updated

In Lincolnshire, 11 people spent the night at the Meridian Centre in Louth after choosing to leave their homes.

The high tide in the early hours of Friday passed without incident along the east coast in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with the Environment Agency urging caution but saying the picture was “improving”.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence was checking that sea defences have not been breached during the high tide in Lincolnshire.

Air support from the RAF will be used to check for any damage, with the county council saying any repairs will be made before the high tide on Friday evening.

Updated

The wind has picked up in Jaywick, Essex, where it is bitterly cold and the snow has started to fall again. The tide is rising, and is expected to peak at around midday.

One resident said he had been told that transport to the evacuation centre had been – for the moment at least – suspended.

Robert, who did not want to give his surname, said he was “angry and frustrated” at the conflicting information.
“I was told to evacuate, but I didn’t want to leave the house and the dogs. But this morning I wanted to get the missus and the baby to the centre and they told me the transport is suspended.

“I’m getting mixed messages from everywhere, we don’t know what is happening and I’ve got no way of getting there.”

Police officers patrol the streets in the Essex seafront community of Jaywick.
Police officers patrol the streets in the Essex seafront community of Jaywick. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The refuge centre remains open, but there it is unclear whether the evacuation is still under way since the flooding risk has been downgraded.

A police officer said they were currently in a “holding pattern”, waiting to gauge the weather risk.

Earlier this morning a police officer told the Guardian it was “unlikely” the sea wall would be breached and police were not telling people to leave, but should monitor developments.

Updated

A 4x4 overturned on the A170 in North Yorkshire this morning. No one was injured in the crash at Sutton Bank in the North Yorkshire Moors.

North Yorkshire police tweeted a picture of the white jeep:

Updated

More from Alexandra Topping on the situation in Jaywick.

A firefighter waded through freezing water to try to find a missing dog in Middlesbrough.

Three engines raced to the Centre Square lake after the staffordshire terrier was reported missing this morning.

And as the pet’s owner watched on, a firefighter plunged into the water in a desperate bid to find it, but crews called off the search before 9am this morning.

Updated

Drivers faced disruption on the A1 after a lorry jacknifed in Northumberland.

The rush-hour crash happened on the northbound stretch of the A1 at Brownieside, near the B6347 junction.

The road was blocked until emergency services cleared the vehicle from the carriageway.

Northumbria police said there was heavy snow across the region and drivers were being advised to take care.

A spokesman said:

Make sure you leave extra time for your journey and drive responsibly when you do get behind the wheel.

The roads across the region are passable with care but some minor roads will be badly affected, particularly in Northumberland, so make sure you reduce your speed.

Our officers will be working with the local authorities to ensure roads are safe and assist anyone who gets into difficulty.

Elsewhere, 16 vehicles were involved in an accident on the northbound A19 in the Easington area of County Durham, causing rush-hour delays for commuters.

And around 50 vehicles were stuck on the northbound A1 Western Bypass, on the slip road for Etal Lane, at the Kenton Lane junction, due to bad weather.

The area was cleared by around 7.15am.

Updated

Motorists are being warned to beware of ice and snow on the roads of south-west England and many parts of Wales.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow and ice for the whole of Wales, predicting that up to 4cm of snow could affect even low-lying areas while up to 10cm could cover the hills and mountains.

There were some problems on the roads. A lorry overturned near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid-Wales while the A484 was blocked in Carmarthenshire after a tree fell across the road. One carriageway of the M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions due to strong wind but opened later.

There were lots of very pretty scenes.

In the south-west of England the Met Office published a yellow warning because of ice.

Dartmoor national park asked sightseers to behave sensibly and not get in the way of emergency service and those who live and work on the moor. It said: “Your rights of access do not change during snowfall, so do not enter farmers’ fields for sledging.”

High winds also caused some concern in the far south-west, where a tree fell on to a house in Falmouth. Nobody was hurt.

The tough driving conditions did not put some off. One driver was clocked at 131mph on the M4 by police.

Updated

Here are some pictures from across the country of the snowfall overnight.

A boy pushes his bike along the beach at Skegness in Lincolnshire
A boy pushes his bike along the beach at Skegness in Lincolnshire Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA
A woman walks to work in Loftus, North Yorkshire.
A woman walks to work in Loftus, North Yorkshire. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
A Highland cow grazes in the snow in Hothfield, Kent.
A Highland cow grazes in the snow in Hothfield, Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
Snow and ice covers the hill tops in the Lake District in Keswick.
Snow and ice covers the hills in the Lake District in Keswick. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Updated

If you’ve been affected by the high winds, snow or flood warnings we’d like to hear from you. Are you trying to get to work and have experienced travel chaos? Perhaps your flight has been cancelled or you have been warned that you might be evacuated from your home.

You can share your experiences, photos and videos with us by clicking on the blue ‘Contribute’ button on the blog or filling in our form here.

Though we’d like to hear from you, your safety and security is most important. When responding to this assignment, please make sure you put your safety and the safety of others first. Extreme weather events can be very unpredictable and carry very real risks.

Updated

Twitter users vented their disappointment with the lack of snow or severe weather in their parts of the country.

Updated

The number of severe flood warnings by the Environment Agency has dropped to 11. You can see the latest information on the EA’s site here.

There are currently 11 severe flood warnings, 88 warnings and 78 alerts in force in England and Wales.

Updated

Phil Squire, 57, said he was anxious about the weather but was not leaving his house, which is right on Jaywick’s seafront.

“I’m anxious if I’m honest, but where we live we’re in a position where we can gauge the weather. If it’s looking serious at midday we’ll jump in the car and go.”

Squire said police had knocked on his door at 10.30pm last night but he did not want to leave his house, but had read the information leaflet posted through his door. “I’m staying put for the moment, it’s a matter of wait and see,” he said.

He said he was worried about looting if he left the house. “The police say they’ll be here, but they are not going to be going around with a canoe are they. They can’t be everywhere.”

Squire said the information from police had been excellent, but he had not been given sandbags. “I’d appreciate sandbags, because I’d have no idea where to get them. You would have thought they had a plan to get them to us.”

Updated

2,000 homes lose power in northern Scotland

About 2,000 homes have lost power and 25 schools are closed in north and north-east Scotland. The Met Office has warned the bout of polar weather could see snow as deep at as 20cm (8in) on higher ground.

The school closures included Kingussie high school in the Cairngorms, as well as four schools in Dumfries and Galloway. Drifting snow, tree falls and weather-related accidents forced the closure of roads across the north and north east, including the A9 near Calvine in Perthshire.

Transport authorities warned too that high winds could affect crossings including the Kessock and Dornoch bridges on the A9, and urged caution on stretches of the A82 affected by patches of localised flooding on the northern shore of Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit.

Updated

In York the severe weather is causing hazardous driving conditions. A car overturned on the A170 at Sutton Bank, and there has been a collision at Staxton Hill, which is closed until further notice.

Police say there have been a number of collisions across the Ryedale and Scarborough area.

North Yorkshire police and North Yorkshire fire and rescue service have urged motorists to take care on the roads.

Updated

Manchester airport has warned that the weather is having an effect on flights and has urged travellers to contact their airline.

Meanwhile, Oldham Council confirmed that seven schools in the area would be closed, including Alexander Park school, Greenfield Primary school and St Chads CofE Primary school.

Updated

Jaywick evacuation called off

My colleague Alexandra Topping reports that due to a change in winds the evacuation in Jaywick, Essex, will no longer go ahead, according to Essex police.

Updated

The weather appears to have disrupted fewer schools than feared in the south of England.

Some schools in Surrey have delayed their opening to allow staff and students more time to arrive.


In Suffolk, headteacher Geoff Barton is bracing himself:

Parts of northern England woke up to blankets of snow this morning.

Following weather warnings from the Met Office, snow finally started falling across Greater Manchester late on Thursday.

Snow flurries continued this morning, with hilly areas such as Saddleworth and the Peak District receiving a thick covering.

Most parts of the region have had snow, including Oldham, Stockport, Blackley, Wythenshawe and Stalybridge with some schools in Oldham closing for the day.

The Snake Pass and the Woodhead Pass remained open today, but drivers were being warned of hazardous driving conditions.

Yellow weather warnings of snow remain in place until Friday evening but the morning sleet and snow is expected to clear southwards, leaving a clear sunny day.

However, it is expected to be a windy day and bitterly cold, with temperatures at 3C.

In Lancashire, police warned motorists to avoid a major valley road after heavy snowfall. A traffic alert by Rossendale police said drivers should not use Grane Road after thick snow brought traffic to a standstill. However, police have confirmed the road has been gritted again and has now reopened.

In Yorkshire, a flood warning remained in place today for the north bank of the Humber estuary amid concerns the combined impact of strong winds and peak spring tides.

Spurn nature reserve near Kilnsea will be closed to all visitors from noon on Thursday until further notice.

And temporary steel flood defences are being put in place by the Environment Agency on part of the North Lincolnshire coast.

The warning for the Humber was put in place on Wednesday and is likely to remain in effect until the weekend.

The agency said: “High tides are expected for the remainder of the week, increasing towards peak spring tides and strong winds on Friday. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Meanwhile, part of the A1077 Sluice Road between South Ferriby and Winterton was closed from 9am on Thursday.

A North Lincolnshire council statement said this was to allow the Environment Agency to put in place temporary steel flood defences as a precautionary measure. The road is likely to remain closed until Sunday.

“The flood alerts have been issued due to the expected bad weather on Friday when severe gale force northerly winds are expected to generate large waves along the east coast, which could result in coastal flooding across Lincolnshire.”

Updated

Some residents in Jaywick are reluctant to evacuate and have refused to leave, according to reports by the Press Association (PA).

Iris Smith, who was walking her dog on the beach this morning, said she was not worried. She told PA:

I’m not going at all. We have had it before with all the panic - knocking on doors, waking you up in the early hours - and nothing happened last time.

I am not worried at all. We are a big family down here, we look after each other,” the 62-year-old added, despite living seven houses back from the sea wall.

I am well prepared.

Seafront resident Rebecca Kenny, 31, said she would be staying put “unless things get drastically worse” because of her fear her home will be broken into.

I have animals, I also have a big fear of crime.

Unfortunately Clacton and Jaywick have a high crime rate and recently it’s been ridiculously bad for burglaries and I think it would be rich pickings for someone prepared to look around and see who’s there and who isn’t.

While I know the police are putting on extra patrols, they can’t cover the whole area the whole time.

With the security risk I don’t really want to leave the house.

A resident walks his dog along Brooklands Road in Jaywick, Essex.
A resident walks his dog along Brooklands Road in Jaywick, Essex. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA

Updated

It is all quiet in Jaywick this morning, with camera crews and journalists far outnumbering residents this early in the morning.

After heavy rain last night, skies are clear, although temperatures are around 2C to 3C (35F to 37F).

I have just spoken to a trio of police officers who told me they have not yet been given orders to knock on doors and commence the evacuation.

The situation with the weather is as yet unclear, but officers are walking through the town to answer any questions and give reassurance to residents.

“We want people to know we are here,” said one officer.

Around 17 left their homes to take refuge in the nearby Tendring education centre. Residents have been told they can take their pets after some residents refused to leave animals behind during a similar evacuation in 2013.

Updated

The Environment Agency chief executive, Sir James Bevan, has been speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He said he did not think the storm would be as powerful as that which caused the east coast flood of 1953, which has been described as the worst national peacetime disaster to hit the UK. But he said there could be “potentially significant effects” – including flooding:

It’s very important to underline that there are two high tides today coming down the east coast, north to south.

The first is coming in at the moment slightly under the height that we expected, the second, due this evening, may come out slightly higher than has been anticipated.

And so we will stay very active throughout the day on the ground, we will continue to warn and inform the communities that are at risk, and I would like to urge everybody to remain vigilant and to continue to follow our flood warnings.

Updated

Emergency services in Essex are preparing to assist with the evacuation.

Updated

John Curtin, executive director of flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, has posted information about the height of waves heading toward the east coast, which he says will be crucial.

Updated

The number of severe flood warnings has dropped again to 13, the Environment Agency said.

There are currently 13 severe flood warnings, 82 warnings and 80 alerts in force in England and Wales.

Updated

My colleague, Alexandra Topping, is in Jaywick, Essex, where residents are being evacuated due to severe flood risk.

Some residents were moved to temporary accommodation overnight but otherwise all is fairly quiet, she reports.

However, the warnings issued by the Environment Agency are for high tide, which is around 12:30pm.

Updated

Thundersnow is a rare weather phenomenon which looks set to make an appearance in the UK over the next couple of days.

Here’s a video explainer of what thundersnow actually is.

What is thundersnow?

Number of severe flood warnings rises again

There are now 16 Environment Agency severe flood warnings issued for England and Wales, which you can see here.

Severe warnings constitute danger to life. There are also 78 warnings, which suggest flooding is expected and immediate action is required and 80 alerts, which mean flooding is possible and residents should be prepared.

Updated

The British Red Cross has placed volunteers on standby to support emergency services.

Volunteers in Essex, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire are preparing to support affected residents in rest centres.

Updated

Suffolk police are warning residents to keep away from coastal areas.

Snow and strong winds have made driving hazardous in the north-east of England, according to reports.

The official North East Traffic News Twitter feed reported that up to 50 cars were stuck on a slip road off the A1 at Etal Lane, Newcastle.

It also reported a lorry had overturned, blocking the road on to the main carriageway of the A1 at Brownieside, Northumberland.

On the A19, which links Teesside to Wearside and Tyneside, there was a crash involving 15 vehicles on the northbound carriageway at Peterlee.

Northern Powergrid said 600 homes in Hebburn, South Tyneside, were without power but it expected the problem to be resolved by 9am.

Looking at snowfall, by 4am Tulloch Bridge had received 8cm in an hour, taking the total to 17cm.

Updated

Number of severe flood warnings increases

The number of areas where flooding poses a threat to life has been increased to 12 by the Environment Agency.

The severe warnings are in place for coastal areas of Essex and Suffolk while dozens of lesser flood warnings have been imposed as the east coast braces itself for a storm surge.

The warnings take in Clacton to Lee Wick, West Mersea, The Strood and adjacent marshland, and tidal River Stour at Mistley, including the Quay and the Walls, all in Essex.

Coastal communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been told they should be prepared for large waves and possible flooding.

Updated

Morning summary

Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the severe weather forecast to cause havoc across much of Britain.

Here is a summary of the picture across the country:

  • The number of areas where flooding poses a threat to life, according to the Environment Agency, has been increased to 12 as emergency services prepare to evacuate residents from their homes.
  • Seafront residents in Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, are being moved to temporary accommodation as the Environment Agency warned coastal communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex to prepare for gale-force winds, large waves and possible flooding on Friday.
  • The Ministry of Defence said about 100 soldiers from the Catterick army base in Yorkshire had been deployed to Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast.
  • Scotland and the north of England are covered in a blanket of snow, causing travel disruption and school closures.
  • 80 flights were cancelled at Heathrow and four at Gatwick.

Here’s our latest story on the conditions.

Updated

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