*Live updates have now concluded – this information has been superseded*
Wind speeds in excess of 100mph are expected on the Isle of Wight today (Friday) as Storm Eunice hits, with a red ‘danger to life’ weather warning now in force.
Island Echo is bringing you live updates throughout the day for what is expected to be one of the worst storms in over 30 years, bringing a risk of widespread structural damage, falling debris and substantial disruption to energy supplies.
Follow all the latest below, with a snapshot look at travel disruption and other key information further down the page.
LIVE UPDATES
CROSS-SOLENT TRAVEL
Significant disruption is expected throughout Friday with the potential for all ferries to cease operations.
Vehicle Ferries
Red Funnel – East Cowes ↔ Southampton – Resumed
Wightlink – Fishbourne ↔ Portsmouth –Resumed
Wightlink – Yarmouth ↔ Lymington –Resumed
Foot Passengers
Red Funnel Red Jet – West Cowes ↔ Southampton – Resumed
Wightlink FastCat – Ryde Pier Head ↔ Portsmouth Harbour –Resumed
Hovertravel – Ryde ↔ Southsea – SUSPENDED – will not run before 07:45 Saturday
BUSES
Southern Vectis – Resumed as of 16:30
Route 12 – buses will not be serving Military Road today, nor Alum Bay or Church Hill, Totland
Route 7 – will not serve Alum Bay or Church Hill, Totland
Routes 22 and 24 – suspended
Route 6 – suspended
Route 4 – buses suspended due to Lushington Hill being blocked.
Route 9 – buses will divert via Staplers until further notice.
Route 3 – buses unable to serve the Albert Street or Ventnor Boots. Nearest stop will be Central Car Park.
TRAINS
Island Line – Shanklin ↔ Ryde Pier Head – Resumed
ROAD CLOSURES / DISRUPTION
CLEARED Combley Road, Havenstreet – tree down across the road
CLOSED Watergate Road, Newport – Tree leaning into the road near Marvel Lane
CLEARED Long Lane, Newport – large bush/tree blocking the Newport bound carriageway
Lower Road, Adgestone – dead tree down across power cables
Gate Lane, Freshwater Bay – sea water running down the bank and onto the carriageway
CLEARED Middle Road, Calbourne – tree down across the carriageway
CLEARED Undercliff Drive, St Lawrence – tree down opposite Barrington Lodge
CLEARED Pellhurst Road, Ryde – tree down by the Wellbeing Centre
CLEARED Church Road, Shanklin – tree down near to St Blasius Church
CLEARED Carisbrooke High Street – reports of a hanging streetlamp, near Newport Medical Centre.
BLOCKED Afton Road, Freshwater – closed between Middle Road and Freshwater Bay due to fallen trees
CLEARED Westhill Road, Yarmouth – tree down on the hill going down towards Fort Victoria
CLOSED Hoxall Lane, Brighstone – tree has come down and brought down power cables
CLEARED Lushington Hill, Wootton – BT telegraph pole is leaning into the road outside Lushington garage
CLEARED Main Road, Chillerton – large tree down over the bridge and close to the stream
CLEARED Froglands Lane, Newport – tree down
CLEARED Victoria Avenue, Shanklin (just past Albert Road) – tree down partially blocking the road.
BLOCKED Whitecross Lane, Lake (just past Aldi) – Tree down partially blocking the carriageway.
PASSABLE Firestone Copse Road, Wootton – Large branch down in the road between Firestone Copse and Havenstreet
CLEARED Gatcombe Village Road, Gatcombe – A tree has fallen across the road close to Newbarn Cottage.
CLEARED West Lane, Brading – tree down outside the entrance to Nunwell House. Police attending.
Golf Links Road, Sandown – A large tree is hanging over the carriageway by the waterworks
Whiteley Bank – low branch hanging over the carriageway as you head towards Shanklin on the left hand side
BLOCKED Elm Lane, Calbourne – live wires down across the carriageway
CLEARED Fairlee Road, Newport – tree down by the cemetery
CLEARED Upper Adgestone Road, Brading – 2 large trees are down near the Vineyard
Solent Gardens Binstead – reports of a cracked tree hanging over the footpath
Gills Cliff Road, Ventnor – the bus stop has lifted in the strong winds and has been left partially perched in the hedge. Our crews are attending the site.
CLOSED Nodghams Lane, Carisbrooke – reports of a tree hanging low over the carriageway
BLOCKED Coleman’s Lane, Porchfield – reports of a tree down across the carriageway
CLOSED High Street, Ventnor – closed whilst repairs are carried out
CLOSED Oakhill Road, Seaview/Pondwell – closed due to fallen tree
REPORTED POWERCUTS
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have issued a red alert, meaning they expect widespread disruption and damage to the electricity infrastructure across the South. In the event of a power cut, call 105 for information.
PO30 – Calbourne/Brighstone – 15 postcodes affected
PO30 – Carisbrooke – 17 postcodes affected
PO30 & PO38 – 73 postcodes affected
PO31 – Cowes – 90 postcodes without power, with traffic lights affected at Stag Lane and Northwood
PO33 – Wootton – 8 postcodes affected
PO38 – Rookley – 4 postcodes affected
PO41 – Wellow – 5 postcodes affected
FLOOD ALERTS / WARNINGS
Isle of Wight Coast – The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Isle of Wight coast, with coastal flooding expected in East Cowes, Cowes, Newport and Yarmouth. Read more here.
OTHER
Rubbish Collection – No kerbside rubbish collections will be taking place today. Any waste and recycling set out for collection should be taken back onto your property and secured. Collection crews will return to collect on Saturday.
Postal Deliveries – Royal Mail and Parcel Force not expected to deliver. Staff have been told to stay at home.
Lynnbottom Tip – Closed
Onward Waste – Collections suspended today
Libraries – Lord Louis and Ryde Libraries will close at 13:00 today. Sandown, Cowes, Freshwater and Ventnor libraries will close at 12.30.
Business/Attraction Closures
SnapFitness – Unstaffed and classes cancelled in the morning. Open to members.
Brading Roman Villa – Closed
West Wight Sports Centre – Closed
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary – Closed
Isle of Wight Pearl – Closed
Needles Battery / Tea Room – Closed
Wilkinsons Pie Shop, Sandown – Closed
Garlic Farm – Closed
Dimbola Lodge Museum & Galleries – Closed
Isle of Wight Foodbank – Newport closed, Cowes open
Why did the council use sense and cancel waste collection yesterday and not after most people have put out and gone to work?.
That’s the council all over useless
I know it’s fun to bash the council but come on, surely it was common sense not to put your bins out?! Did you really need to be told?
Some people have to be told and even then they don’t do as they are instructed. As the saying goes ‘ you can’t teach stupid’
Perhaps the refuse collectors had a full day on thursday? Besides people would complain if the bins were emptied a day early, they wouldn’t be ready. Now the collectors will have to work Saturday instead.
Stay home then simple
Great Jo, Island Echo, for keeping us all updated!. Thank you.
Dear Island Echo thanks for the update’s all day
Much appreciated, let’s hope all are safe
To be honest i cannot understand what all the fuss is about. In wroxall all we have had is strong gales. I have just driven to Shanklin and Lake where all i have seen is a few branches on the road. Typical over reaction by the Met office to cover there backs