Coast battered by 'strongest storm of the year'
The coast was lashed by strong winds, lightning and driving rain in what forecasters say was 'the strongest storm of the year'.
Hampshire police and the Environment Agency issued weather warnings throughout Hampshire on Saturday.
Police also set up an Adverse Weather Desk which at some points was dealing with over 60 incidents at any one time.
Incidents included trees collapsing on roads at Privett Place, Gosport and the junction of West Street, Portchester, and The Fairway.
Other accidents caused by the weather were cladding flying off a roof at 2.20pm from a house at Bramham Moor, Stubbington and a metal shed also nearly blowing away in Selborne Gardens, Gosport.
Two people were also taken to hospital after a car collided with a fallen tree in Shedfield.
Hovertravel cancelled all of their services throughout the day as a safety precaution but the Wightlink car ferries were running as normal.
Malcolm Fox, beach master for Hovertravel, said: 'The wind was just too treacherous for us to run the service. But it should be ok tomorrow.'
The lighthouse at The Needles on the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight reported gusts of between 95mph and 100mph on Saturday.
But meteorologists said average wind speeds were closer to 70mph in exposed areas as storms swept the country.
The Environment Agency has 24 flood warnings in force, with the majority in southern coastal regions.
The worst of the weather passed over most of the country last night.
Forecasters said Sunday should see calmer weather.
Stephen Davenport, of MeteoGroup UK, said: 'This is the strongest storm we have had this year, but it is just an autumnal storm, and not untypical for this time of year.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
