Storm Ashley brings rain, wind and floods

INA-  sources

After the storm came the floods, as the Island suffered two days of chaotic weather this week.

Many Islanders were disappointed to learn that hours of training for the Great South Run, in Portsmouth, came to no avail when organisers cancelled Sunday’s event the previous day, with Storm Ashley approaching. Several of them, who were sponsored for charity, decided to run locally on the Island instead to raise funds for their chosen cause.

Winds of up to 65 miles per hour at The Needles battered the Island on Sunday, with storm surges of 0.4m-0.6m (1ft 4in-2ft) as waves crashed over coastal sea walls.

The Hovercraft service was affected in the morning, with major cancellations and several theme parks, including Blackgang Chine and Tapnell Farm’s Pumpkin Trail, closed for safety reasons.

As Ashley blew itself out, a deluge of rain followed on Monday afternoon, with flood waters causing problems across the Island, including at Afton Road, Freshwater, outside the entrance to Tesco. Landguard Manor Road, Shanklin, was also flooded, while Collingwood Path, Shanklin, was closed by Island Roads.

The IW Met Service reported 45.8mm (1.8ins) of rain fell in Bembridge, 43.4mm at Shanklin Beach and 38.1mm in Lake.