Select a region
Storm Ciarán devastated the island overnight with 'ice bomb' hailstones, gusts of more than 100mph and what forecasters suspect was a tornado – but Jersey Met says we're now over the worst of it.
The suspected tornado caused major destruction as it tracked from St Clement to the east coast, tearing tiles and whole roofs off dozens of homes – and leading to the evacuations of some.
Yes that's a neighbours roof on the road, we've only lost about 20 slates off the roof ????Stay safe folks #StormCiaran #Jersey @TheOnlyGuru @jerseyruddy @AlexSpiceley pic.twitter.com/jz9TizSbJr
— JJ Gallagher (@jjgallagher3) November 2, 2023
Matt Winter, Senior Forecaster at Jersey Met, told Express this morning: "A tornado is very likely to have happened, from the damage we can see and when it happened in association with a severe thunderstorm."
However, he said the Jersey Met team were still "looking to confirm" this.
The key fear last night was that Jersey would be hit by what's known as a 'sting jet' – a rare meteorological event which caused severe damage in the Great Storm of 1987.
This is the scene in Princess Place, St Clement. The parish seems to have been very badly hit, possibly by the reported tornado which struck around midnight before the strongest winds of #StormCiaran arrived. pic.twitter.com/IMDM1Fb5ap
— Consumer Carl (@CarlWalker7) November 2, 2023
According to the UK Met Office, a sting jet is small area of very intense winds – often 100 mph or more – that can sometimes form in powerful systems crossing the British Isles. It forms in rapidly deepening areas of low pressure and extends down towards the ground.
This morning, by 08:30, the winds had reached their peak strength and were starting to recede.
The Met Office forecast that the wind would drop from Storm Force 10 to Strong Force 7-8 by midday.
Cloudy with prolonged squally showers, heavy and perhaps thundery at times. Max: 12°C.
— Jersey Met (@Jersey_Met) November 2, 2023
Wind: Westerly severe gale F9 to storm F10, gusts over 90mph. decreasing gale F8 later, gusts to 60mph by midday. Later West to northwest gale F8, gusts to 60mph, decreasing strong F6 to 7.
The wind strength would further decrease to Moderate Force 3-4 by midnight this evening.
Friday is expected to be a better day, with sunny spells and occasional showers, with the wind reaching Force 6-7.
Follow Express for all the latest updates...
◆ LIVE UPDATES: Islanders in A&E as Storm Ciarán batters island with near hurricane-force winds
FOCUS: What is a 'sting jet' and what damage could it do?
It gets worse... Storm Ciarán now set to bring "violent" gusts of 100mph+
ADVICE: How should I prepare my home for Storm Ciarán?
Grands Vaux residents brace as Storm Ciarán approaches
Hospital and airport set to close on Thursday
Schools to close on Thursday due to "significant" weather risks
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.