Kent Police has issued a warning to motorists to take extra care due to strong gales today (February 9) and Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews have been called to a number of storm related incidents.
Storm Ciara is causing widespread gales, resulting in some tree falls and debris on the roads. Motorists have issued warnings about trees felled in Reading Street Road, Broadstairs, Tothill Street, Minster, and builders’ debris in Nash Road, Margate.
A partial roof/ gable collapse has also resulted in bricks smashing onto a parked vehicle in Broadstairs High Street and a rollershutter being ripped off of a premises on Margate seafront.
Fire crews were called to the incident in High Street, Broadstairs at 12.34pm and are making scene safe following partial roof collapse on to nearby vehicles, no casualties reported
At 12.28pm crews were called to South Eastern Road, Ramsgate due to debris from flat roof detached from property. Crews are on scene to make the area safe. At 3.33pm crews attended Albert Court, Ramsgate, due to loosened building materials from a property under construction which was made safe by firefighters. At 6.40pm crews attended South Eastern Road, Ramsgate to a report of internal flooding caused by rain following earlier storm wind damage to roof of premises. Crews are working to salvage property and make scene safe.
Earlier crews attended Margate Road, Broadstairs, at 10.12am due to loose signage at a commercial premises. This was made safe and a glass roof was also checked for safety. At 9.41am crews attended Royal Road, Ramsgate, to reports of loose scaffolding boards. These were moved to a safer location by firefighters.
A tree is also reported to be blocking the road between Minster roundabout and Acol village.
Motorists should take extra care today due to strong gales and heavy rain causing treacherous driving conditions. Allow plenty of extra journey time and remember to double your stopping distance in wet weather. Also watch out for other road users who may be harder to see.
— Kent Police RPU (@KentPoliceRoads) February 9, 2020
The weather is also causing disruption to some broadband services.
A power cut has affected the Vue cinema in Westwood. Properties in the CT9 and CT11 postcodes have also been hit.
It's getting windy. A lucky escape for this lorry driver on the #A20 heading for Dover, he was helped out by our traffic officers. If you must travel, plan ahead, watch for fallen trees, flying cones or debris, and drive safely. Be careful out there folks #StormCiara pic.twitter.com/8U7jTWCWla
— National Highways (@NationalHways) February 9, 2020
Southeastern is advising people not to travel today (February 9) if possible, saying: “If you do decide to travel, there is a high risk of significant disruption and you may not be able to complete your journey.
If routes become blocked due to fallen trees or other debris being blown on to the line, rail replacement transport is unlikely to be available.
Exceptionally high winds from Storm Ciara are forecast across the South East area on Sunday and in the early hours of Monday. ”
Stagecoach says some double-deckers have been replaced for single deck vehicles due to the high winds, recorded at around 64mph in Thanet.
#Canterbury #Faversham #Thanet Due to high winds some of our double decker services today will be replaced with single decker buses. Please be safe out there today.
— Stagecoach South East (@StagecoachSE) February 9, 2020