Islanders are this morning (Monday) continuing to feel the effects of Storm Katie after 106mph gusts battered The Needles overnight, resulting in damage to properties, fallen trees and disruption to travel across the Isle of Wight.
All cross-Solent services were suspended for a time, however quickly resumed with Wightlink’s Fishbourne-Portsmouth car ferry operating an hourly service. All of Wightlink’s cross-Solent services, Hovertravel’s Ryde-Southsea service and all Red Funnel services are now back in operation.
At around midnight lights started to flicker in many towns and villages across the Island, which was followed by a power cut in the Godshill area. Power remains off for some homes and businesses in the PO33, PO36, PO37, PO38 areas, with 185 postcodes in the PO30 area likely to remain without power until 23:00 tonight.
During the peak of the storm, at around 03:00, Cowes RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat to assist a 25ft yacht in difficulties near Osborne Bay. A tow was established and the vessel was taken safely back to Cowes Harbour.
Homeowners and businesses are now counting the cost of the damage sustained, with garden walls destroyed and whole windows ripped out, as experienced at The Chequers Inn, Rookley.
On Shanklin seafront, a beach café has had benches destroyed (pictured above).
A number of fallen trees are still blocking roads in both urban and rural areas, including Nettlecombe Lane, Seaview; Whitwell Road, Godshill; Ashey Road, Ryde; Gort Road, East Cowes and Quarr Road, Binstead. Overnight crews responded to tens of downed trees and branches which, for a time, blocked main through roads.
Thousands of Islanders stayed up-to-date with all the latest news and information throughout the night with Island Echo, as we delivered live updates. Thanks to all who joined us!
