Storm Henk unleashed havoc in southern England, with wind speeds reaching up to 94mph, causing widespread disruptions. The Isle of Wight experienced the brunt of the storm, with gusts of 67mph. Fallen trees blocked roads and railways, resulting in travel chaos, while transport services and attractions had to close temporarily.
Storm Henk Causes Widespread Disruption in Southern England
The south of England faced chaos as Storm Henk battered the region with gusts reaching 94mph (151kph). The Isle of Wight endured the storm's worst, recording the strongest winds at the Needles on Tuesday afternoon. Winds of 67mph (108km/h) were recorded at St Catherine's Point in Ventnor, and peaks of 60mph (97km/h) were noted at Bournemouth Airport.
The storm led to widespread travel disruptions as fallen trees blocked roads and rail lines. BBC reported that South Western Railway advised passengers not to travel due to at least seven trees obstructing various railway lines, causing disruptions expected to last all day. The A35 Christchurch Bypass shut down in both directions due to a fallen tree between Bargates and Purewell Cross Road, causing major traffic congestion. Matchams Lane also faced a standstill due to a fallen tree at Avon Causeway.
Read Also: Travel Chaos in West London: Passengers Stranded in Trains Due to Faulty Cables
Traffic issues extended to Royal Bournemouth Hospital, affecting patients and staff as the hospital exit became blocked due to traffic congestion. The hospital trust urged drivers not to use the Densleigh Road roundabout as a shortcut.
Transport services were disrupted, Red Jet catamaran services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight were canceled, and the Sandbanks chain ferry was temporarily suspended. In Poole, an unsafe structure forced the closure of the A35 at North Road, which will remain shut until the object, seen dangling from scaffolding, can be removed on Wednesday.
Numerous fallen trees added to the congestion, including one that blocked a lane on the northbound M3 between junctions 9 and 8. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or severe property damage.
Storm Henk also raised flooding concerns, with numerous flood warnings in Dorset, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire. Several attractions, including Bournemouth and Boscombe piers and Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, were temporarily closed due to the adverse weather conditions.
Claims Life in the Cotswolds as Falling Tree Crushes Car
During the ongoing Storm Henk, a tragic incident occurred in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, claiming one life. At around 3:15 pm yesterday, emergency services rushed to the scene after receiving reports of two cars trapped under a large fallen tree due to the strong winds from the storm.
According to the Daily Mail, one of the cars was completely smashed, and a white Kia suffered minor damage. Sadly, a person in one of the crushed cars died at the scene.
The A433 Tetbury Road in Gloucestershire remains closed in both directions as investigations continue. Meanwhile, Storm Henk continues to cause chaos in the UK, with wind gusts reaching up to 94mph, leading to travel disruptions and power outages affecting more than 100,000 homes.
London also experienced the storm's impact, with large trees falling on cars and houses in Forest Hill. In Greenwich, scaffolding from a four-story building site swayed in the wind before collapsing.
The Army also suffered losses as one of its Apache helicopters, valued at about £15 million, was blown over by Storm Henk's strong gusts at an Army Air Corps base in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. The helicopter's rotors were damaged due to inadequate securing during the storm.
Related Article: Christmas Travel in the UK Gets Tough as Strong Winds, Closed Train Stations Create Big Delays, Confusion
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
