Storm Boelo brings more wind and rain to South East

9 hours ago

Jacob Panonsand

Nathan Bevan,South East

Strong winds and heavy rain intensified throughout Saturday as Storm Boelo made its way across the UK

Nick Edell A Brighton street scene during the Storm Boelo yellow rain warning. The street is wet and reflecting the buildings and street lights. A person is crossing the road, while a motorbike and buses can be seen in the distance. There is spray on the roads. — Strong winds and heavy rain intensified throughout Saturday as Storm Boelo made its way across the UK

Strong winds and rain have been lashing the South East after the UK's second named storm of the weekend rolled in.

A yellow warning for rain is in place until 23:00 BST across the region as Storm Boelo brought more wet and windy weather, just one day after Storm Austen hit.

The Met Office warned the storm could present a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves, adding that people should stay indoors as much as possible.

Littlehampton Bonfire Society had been due to host an event on Saturday but this has been postponed to Sunday, with the event also being scaled down.

The society said the event, on Littlehampton seafront, would feature a family funfair, food vendors, the lighting of its bonfire and its Grand Fireworks Spectacular.

Sue Baker, from Littlehampton Bonfire Society, said the group's leaders had "pulled out some magic" to get the event to go ahead.

Despite this, bonfire events in Horsham, Ninfield and Ashurst Wood were called off in the past few days due to the poor weather forecast.

Rough waves could be seen battering the West Pier in Brighton a day after part of it collapsed into the sea during Storm Austen

Nick Edell The West Pier in Brighton during stormy conditions. The sea is rough, everythinhg is grey and a danger sign sits in fromt of the pier. — Rough waves could be seen battering the West Pier in Brighton a day after part of it collapsed into the sea during Storm Austen

The weather also had an impact on Saturday's Beachy Head Marathon in East Sussex.

The start time for the challenging South Downs course was brought forward to 08:00 BST to avoid unfavourable weather conditions later in the day.

All other races - the 10k, ultra and half marathons - were due to begin at their advertised times.

In the wake of Storm Austen, power supply issues were reported across the South East, including near Chessington in Surrey, around Henfield, Hurstpierpoint, and East Grinstead in West Sussex; and in Canterbury, Sittingbourne, and Meopham in Kent.

UK Power Networks said supplies had been affected by strong winds and heavy rains.

A spokesperson added: "We prepared for Storm Austen with additional teams on duty and our engineers are working hard to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible."

At about 18:00 on Friday, Southern Water said a power cut at its Lodsworth Water Supply Works meant nearby reservoir levels had been "significantly affected".

A generator was brought in to help, the company said, but 2,020 properties in the area experienced a supply interruption.

Shortly after 10:00 on Saturday, Southern Water said reservoir levels had been recovering steadily and were approaching 50% capacity.

It said teams had "worked around the clock to minimise disruption" and affected customers had seen their supplies return.

Storm Austen came after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind for much of England between 10:00 and 21:00 on Friday, with gusts of up to 84mph (135km/h) recorded in Jersey.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.