Storm Henk brings power cuts, floods and 94mph gusts off Isle of Wight as it tears across south

Roads, bridges and rail lines were blocked as the first named storm of 2024 Henk - swept across parts of southern Britain yesterday, with one area experiencing its strongest wind speeds for more than 30 years.

- Steven Morris

Thousands of homes had power cuts and trees were brought down.

People were asked to stay away from coastal areas hit by the storm and in some areas police advised against travel unless absolutely necessary.

Gusts of 94mph were recorded at The Needles off the Isle of Wight and 71mph winds hit Mumbles Head, south Wales. But the storm also struck inland with Exeter airport getting 81mph gusts. The BBC's senior meteorologist in the south-west of England, David Braine, said these were the strongest winds there since the Burns Day storm of January 1990.

The roof of a pedestrian bridge at the railway station in Okehampton, Devon, was blown off and part of an entertainment complex roof in Exmouth fell on to the seafront, while the Metropolitan police said a woman was taken to hospital after being struck by a falling tree in southeast London. Her injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

Heavy rain fell on already saturated ground with 75mm recorded in Devon over a 24-hour period from Monday evening. As darkness fell yesterday there were 213 flood warnings for England in place and 339 alerts.

In Wales there was one severe flood warning, 19 warnings and 45 alerts.