Storm Patricia batters island with wind, rain
STORM PATRICIA made this summer even worse yesterday with winds recorded at severe gale force nine following the previous night’s soaking.
Winds are set to drop today after gusts peaked at 50 mph around lunchtime yesterday.
The afternoon still saw average wind speeds of force seven.
Torrential rain on Tuesday saw more than 4cm of rain fall – almost 20 times the daily August average, causing some localised flooding in the evening.
Strong winds overnight continued to increase in speed throughout yesterday, which severely disrupted sea travel.
The severity of the weather saw the Commodore Clipper – which gets through in all but the worst weather – cancel its sailing in the early hours of yesterday.
The Condor Voyager sailing from St Malo was also cancelled, and the Trinity freight sailing between Guernsey and Alderney was cancelled.
Travel Trident only ran a morning service, while Sark Shipping only operated two rotations, which were relatively quiet.
Amid all the disruption, the Channel Chieftain V did manage to bring over the national newspapers from Jersey early yesterday morning.
The airport was also able to keep operating, with even Alderney flights flying.
Strong winds have given a headache for campsite owners and visitors, but tents were well pegged down.
Camp de Reves Glampsite stands above Rocquaine Bay, offering wonderful views but also exposed to the full force of the weather.
Owner Danny Barnes said that the site’s five safari tents would cope easily with the unseasonal weather.
‘It’s not a problem with these tents, they are up all year round and we’ve had occasions with people staying in them in even higher winds,’ he said. ‘The only problem is that it does get very noisy inside.
‘The first half of the summer was really good for us but then its the same old story, the kids break up from school and bang goes the weather.’
He said that campers had been putting on a brave face and being really chipper.
‘We’ve been giving them ideas about wet weather activities and we’ve had some great feedback about what Guernsey has to offer.’
Mr Barnes said that the weather had not kept campers away and the site was fully booked until mid-September.
‘It’s actually been a very good season, especially with the Island Games,’ he said.
‘We’ve been keeping a close eye on the forecast and from the middle of next week it looks better, and the long range forecasts into September also look OK.’
The Guernsey Met Office said the long range forecast was still looking unsettled.
