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| Storm Eunice: Disruption to schools and travel as storm hits | Storm Eunice: Disruption to schools and travel as storm hits |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Huge waves have been seen at Lyme Regis in Dorset | Huge waves have been seen at Lyme Regis in Dorset |
| Schools across the south of England have closed, flood warnings are in place and there is major travel disruption due to Storm Eunice. | |
| Several areas across the region are also without power, and some Covid vaccination centres, zoos and parks have been shut. | |
| Ferries to the Isle of Wight, where gusts of up to 122mph have been recorded, have been suspended. | |
| Eleven flood warnings are also in place across Dorset and Hampshire. | |
| This includes Beaulieu, Fareham, Christchurch Harbour, Preston Beach in Weymouth, Poole Harbour and West Bay Harbour. | |
| Storm Eunice has been battering the country in the past few hours. | |
| The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind in the south-east of England from 10:00 until 15:00 GMT. | The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind in the south-east of England from 10:00 until 15:00 GMT. |
| It means flying debris resulting in "danger to life" is expected, as well as power cuts, road closures and damage to homes. | It means flying debris resulting in "danger to life" is expected, as well as power cuts, road closures and damage to homes. |
| Gusts of up 122mph have been recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, the Met Office said. | |
| An amber warning for wind is in place for much of the rest of England until 21:00. | An amber warning for wind is in place for much of the rest of England until 21:00. |
| Workers removing a tree in Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight | Workers removing a tree in Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight |
| In Dorset, the Sandbanks ferry between Poole and Studland has been cancelled. | In Dorset, the Sandbanks ferry between Poole and Studland has been cancelled. |
| All Red Funnel ferry services between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight, are currently suspended. Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, service has also been suspended. | All Red Funnel ferry services between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight, are currently suspended. Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, service has also been suspended. |
| Trains have been reduced to one an hour between Oxford and London Marylebone. | Trains have been reduced to one an hour between Oxford and London Marylebone. |
| Chiltern Railways' David Heathfield said: "It's going to be a very challenging day on the railways. Like Great Western Railway (GWR) we've got a speed restriction so journey times will be a lot longer. | Chiltern Railways' David Heathfield said: "It's going to be a very challenging day on the railways. Like Great Western Railway (GWR) we've got a speed restriction so journey times will be a lot longer. |
| "If people can avoid travelling today, please do it tomorrow." | "If people can avoid travelling today, please do it tomorrow." |
| GWR said it was only able to provide half of its usual service, and journeys will take "significantly longer". Customers are being allowed to change tickets for travel today. | GWR said it was only able to provide half of its usual service, and journeys will take "significantly longer". Customers are being allowed to change tickets for travel today. |
| Several areas across the South are now without power. | |
| They include between Hungerford and Newbury in Berkshire. Other parts of Pangbourne, Tadley and Twyford in the county are affected. | |
| Other cuts have been reported on the Isle of Wight, in Ringwood in Hampshire and across Dorset. | |
| Red Funnel ferry services between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight, have been suspended. | Red Funnel ferry services between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight, have been suspended. |
| Motorists have been asked to avoid Shore Road in Sandbanks which has started to flood | Motorists have been asked to avoid Shore Road in Sandbanks which has started to flood |
| Some Covid vaccination centres, zoos and parks have also been closed due to Storm Eunice. | |
| In a message sent to parents, Hampshire County Council said the decision to close schools was taken at 05:00 GMT on Friday, following the new red warning. | In a message sent to parents, Hampshire County Council said the decision to close schools was taken at 05:00 GMT on Friday, following the new red warning. |
| "With the Met Office warning of significant risk to life, we feel this is the only safe option," the council said. | "With the Met Office warning of significant risk to life, we feel this is the only safe option," the council said. |
| Dorset Council said it had taken the decision "to put threat to life above some continuation of services". | Dorset Council said it had taken the decision "to put threat to life above some continuation of services". |
| It told residents there would be further disruption as a number of services, including council transport and bin collections, were also suspended. | It told residents there would be further disruption as a number of services, including council transport and bin collections, were also suspended. |
| Meanwhile, BCP Council has advised schools to take a "blended learning approach" on Friday. | Meanwhile, BCP Council has advised schools to take a "blended learning approach" on Friday. |
| It suggested children of keyworkers and those in examination years study at school where it was safe to do so. | It suggested children of keyworkers and those in examination years study at school where it was safe to do so. |
| Where there was "insufficient staff in place for children to learn safely at school" it recommended those schools apply remote learning for the day. | Where there was "insufficient staff in place for children to learn safely at school" it recommended those schools apply remote learning for the day. |
| A school catering firm in Bournemouth is offering 2,700 meals, that are set to go to waste, to charity. | A school catering firm in Bournemouth is offering 2,700 meals, that are set to go to waste, to charity. |
| University of Reading has closed all three of its campuses | University of Reading has closed all three of its campuses |
| Southampton's Itchen Bridge will be closed until at least 13:00 GMT | Southampton's Itchen Bridge will be closed until at least 13:00 GMT |
| University of Reading said it was closing all three of its campuses and Bournemouth University has also confirmed it has closed. | University of Reading said it was closing all three of its campuses and Bournemouth University has also confirmed it has closed. |
| Oxford's Natural History Museum said it had also had to take precautions because of its historic glass-tiled roof. | Oxford's Natural History Museum said it had also had to take precautions because of its historic glass-tiled roof. |
| It has closed its main court as a safety precaution, which includes its dinosaur displays. | It has closed its main court as a safety precaution, which includes its dinosaur displays. |
| Several attractions including Monkey World Dorset, Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Millets Farm Centre in Frilford, Oxfordshire, have also shut. | Several attractions including Monkey World Dorset, Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Millets Farm Centre in Frilford, Oxfordshire, have also shut. |
| Zoo closure Friday 18 February 🌬 Due to the adverse weather and high winds forecast on Friday, we have decided to close the zoo to guests as a precautionary measure. If you’ve booked tickets for Friday, please check your emails as we’ve been in touch about your visit.1/2 pic.twitter.com/ZiJ3p548uw | Zoo closure Friday 18 February 🌬 Due to the adverse weather and high winds forecast on Friday, we have decided to close the zoo to guests as a precautionary measure. If you’ve booked tickets for Friday, please check your emails as we’ve been in touch about your visit.1/2 pic.twitter.com/ZiJ3p548uw |
| Covid-19 vaccination centres in Oxford and Reading will also close on Friday. | Covid-19 vaccination centres in Oxford and Reading will also close on Friday. |
| Any appointments will be rebooked and normal opening hours are expected to resume on Saturday. | Any appointments will be rebooked and normal opening hours are expected to resume on Saturday. |
| The drive-through Covid swabbing centres at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals will also remain closed. | The drive-through Covid swabbing centres at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals will also remain closed. |
| University Hospitals Dorset has asked patients to attend hospital appointments only if it is safe to do so. | University Hospitals Dorset has asked patients to attend hospital appointments only if it is safe to do so. |
| Southampton's Itchen Bridge will be closed until at least 13:00 GMT. | Southampton's Itchen Bridge will be closed until at least 13:00 GMT. |
| The National Coastwatch stations at Portland and Needles will also be closed. | The National Coastwatch stations at Portland and Needles will also be closed. |
| The departure of HMS Diamond has also been delayed. It was due to leave Portsmouth for the Eastern Mediterranean to join Nato's defences. | The departure of HMS Diamond has also been delayed. It was due to leave Portsmouth for the Eastern Mediterranean to join Nato's defences. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |