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Gales cause high tides: Holiday park evacuated after flooding

14:00
9 April 2024

Gales cause high tides
Holiday park evacuated after flooding

A holiday park in West Sussex has been evacuated after the River Arun burst its banks overnight, trapping more than 200 people in floodwater.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue were on site supporting rescue operations at Medmerry Holiday Park located between Bracklesham and Selsey until midday on Tuesday.

One person has been transported to hospital after signs of hypothermia while others are at a nearby medical facility for checks.

The fire and rescue service say water levels are expected to rise further this afternoon.

Impacts of another storm

The gales seen overnight are the result of Storm Pierrick, named by the French Met Office.

A flood warning is still active for Medmerry, with more than 300 active in total across the UK.

High tide today will exacerbate the issues, with the height of the tide swelling due to strong winds and rainfall in the wake of Storm Kathleen.

Wind map of West Sussex highlighting flooding in Medmerry.Strong winds overnight saw a high tide cause flooding at the Medmerry Holiday Park (pinned) in West Sussex.

Flooding has also been reported elsewhere, with high tides in Portsmouth and St. Ives causing issues.

Changing situation

Flood alerts are a live service and change throughout the day, some may have been added or removed since the current time.

In Portsmouth, this morning's tide is believed to be the highest on record at 5.75 m. This is 0.76 m higher than usual due to the strong southerly winds and large waves from the gales.

Heavy rainfall continues in Scotland and north-east England today, before spreading widely across the UK and Ireland on Wednesday. Keep check on the WeatherRadar.

Safety tips for when flooding hitsread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
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