Cornwall, Devon and Channel Islands hit by Storm Goretti - BBC News

Summary

A massive clean-up operation continues way after Storm Goretti battered south-west England and Channel Islands
People are being urged not to travel in Cornwall after "one of the most severe storms"
About 15,000 homes are without water in Cornwall
Tens of thousands of homes remain without power in the South West
Dozens of schools are closed in Cornwall and all schools are closed in Guernsey and Alderney
Homes were evacuated in Grampound, Cornwall, after fears of a gas leak caused by fallen trees
Two apartment blocks were evacuated in St Peter Port, Guernsey, with 50 people relocated to hotels
Trains are disrupted in the South West
St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly experienced gusts of 99mph
Listen live to updates on BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Radio Guernsey

Live Reporting

Edited by Sue Paz, Chris Ellis and Ben Chapple

Airports close and bus services end as storm approachespublished at 16:32 GMT 8 January

Image caption,
Jersey bus services are finishing early due to the warning
Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney airports are set to close from 18:00 with the last inbound and outbound flights already cancelled.
In Guernsey, Stagecoach said it would run a reduced bus service, and in Jersey LibertyBus said the last bus would leave the station at 19:20.
Jersey's Hospital Emergency Department would remain open this evening but authorities have asked for members of the public to only visit if they experience a genuine medical emergency.
'Do not go wave watching'published at 16:22 GMT 8 January

In Plymouth - within a yellow warning of wind - Mount Batten breakwater has been closed and flood barriers are in place on the Barbican.
People have been urged by the city council to avoid the waterfront and not to go wave watching.
The yellow wind warning is in place until 08:00 on Friday.
Image source, BBC Weather Watcher/Jane Lewarne

Listen to your BBC local radio stationpublished at 16:22 GMT 8 January

You can get all the latest information on Storm Goretti in the South West from your BBC local radio station.
Dan Pascoe and James Dundon are on air from 18:00 GMT.
Call in and help us keep across the situation where you are in Devon and Cornwall as high winds and high tides hit the region.
From 22:00, Matt Woodley will be across Devon, Cornwall, Jersey and Guernsey, taking your calls and checking in with emergency services as the red warning continues.
Emergency alerts sent to mobile phonespublished at 16:01 GMT 8 January

Emergency alerts, sounds which blare from mobile phones, are being issued to people in the areas most at risk from Storm Goretti.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said the first of the alerts was sent at 15:00 GMT to people in the Isles of Scilly, and the second would be sent at about 17:00 to people in Cornwall.
They said the system would send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas, containing information about the red warning and guidance on staying safe.
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
The emergency alert will be sent to people in Cornwall at 17:00 GMT

Newlyn fishing boats tied uppublished at 15:55 GMT 8 January

With the red wind warning coming into place across Cornwall at 16:00 GMT, boats from Newlyn's fishing fleet have been tied up.
Image caption,
A number of fishing boats from the Newlyn fleet have been tied up in advance of the red wind warning
Major incident declared in Jerseypublished at 15:46 GMT 8 January

The Government of Jersey has declared a major incident.
It says the peak winds are expected between 19:00 and 03:00 GMT.

Goretti winds stronger than other storms in recent memory - Met Officepublished at 15:45 GMT 8 January

"These are exceptional wind speeds and could be stronger than other storms in recent memory," the Met Office says.
Forecaster Bryan de Gruchy said the wind speed levels in Jersey would approach those of Storm Ciarán when winds of more than 100mph (160km/h) left fallen trees, flooded roads and ripped roofs from homes.
Image source, Met Office
Image caption,
Various weather warnings are in place
Schools close and trains cancelled as Goretti nears South Westpublished at 15:32 GMT 8 January

Almost 100 schools have closed early across Cornwall as Storm Goretti nears, triggering a rare red weather warning.
Cornwall Council and Newquay RNLI say residents can expect roofs to be blown off, roads, bridges and railway lines to be closed closed, flying debris resulting in danger to life and power cuts affecting services such as mobile phone coverage.
Exposed coastal areas will be particularly dangerous due to "large waves and strong winds", Cornwall Council says.

Storm Goretti brings red weather warningspublished at 15:21 GMT 8 January

A red warning for wind has been issued for parts of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and Jersey as Storm Goretti is set to bring gusts of up to 100mph.
There is also a yellow warning for wind across Devon.
In both Jersey and Guernsey people have been told to stay at home.
We will keep you updated throughout the evening.