A hailstorm is bringing traffic chaos to Brighton and Hove’s rail and roads this morning.
Southern and Great Western Trains are affected by a lightning strike in Hove having knocked out an electrical supply. Engineers are still working on the problem.
Brighton Station’s roof was also hit, but the station remains open.
Services have resumed on all routes, but trains are expected to be delayed by up to 30 minutes until at least 11am – read more on the National Rail website here.
AT A STAND WEST COASTWAY #WORTHING–#BRIGHTON BOTH WAYS DUE TO ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE #Brighton #Hove #Fishersgate #Portslade #Lancing #Shoreham
— Brighton Station (@brightonstation) July 28, 2014
And rain and hail have caused flash flooding, bringing traffic to a near standstill. Hove and Portslade are the worst affected, with some roads are impassable because of the rain and hail.
The A270 Old Shoreham Road at the Hangleton Link is flooded and there are also reports of Church Road in Hove being closed and the A27 in Hove affected by surface flooding.
Police have warned people not to enter flood water by car or on foot.
Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars. — Brighton&Hove Police (@BtonHovePolice) July 28, 2014
Road policing officer PC Andy Huggett said: “”Heavy rain after a long warm spell invariably leads to slippery roads and drivers need to immediately adjust to the new conditions.”
“Along with the surface conditions, there are the added hazards of very heavy rain, flash flooding and poor visibility and it is essential that drivers make allowances. Use your lights, keep your distance and ensure that you can see clearly – windscreens can be very smeary after days of summer bugs that get spread by the use of wipers.
“If you do encounter flooding, slow down and don’t go into the water unless you are absolutely sure that it is not too deep for your vehicle and that includes 4x4s. When you emerge from the flood water, use your brakes gently to dry them off, obviously making sure that there’s no other cars behind you.”
Buses were also badly affected, but are now running normally, with delays.
The council’s CityClean workers are helping East Sussex Fire and Rescue clear gullies to ease the flooding.
Council services being disrupted because Kings House is closed because of flooding in the basement, which is threatening some of the main electric panels. Staff are being sent to other buildings – you can read more here.
Sadly Brighton & Hove is vulnerable to surface water flooding – and we’re seeing that today. Be careful out there. — Jason Kitcat (@jasonkitcat) July 28, 2014
Meanwhile, the storm continues. You can track the lightning on this interactive map here.
In Hove, @Luke1972’s televisions and cable boxes were shorted by a lightning strike in his neighbour’s garden.
He said he wasn’t sure how it happened, but as the bolt struck, the cable boxes went down.
Iain Holder took this video of the lightning off Hove Lawns:
Zeus and Thor are having it out this morning #thunderandlightning #Brighton pic.twitter.com/9eKo95P3HK — Darrison (@MrDarrison) July 28, 2014
City residents are tweeting pictures of the effects of the storm:
Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it.
KempTown residents’ reaction to the thunderstorm: #brighton #soproud pic.twitter.com/kzDM4h5HkT — Annabel Giles (@Annabel_Giles) July 28, 2014
@BBCBreakfast @bbcweather @brightonargus ok, now we’re swimming to work! #swimtowork pic.twitter.com/NUUPXC2WEM
— Mark Pawlak (@travelsportcopy) July 28, 2014
Hail in hove….. Just waiting for the frogs now….. pic.twitter.com/6Oayau9Zi2 — Artroom Brighton (@ArtroomBrighton) July 28, 2014
pic.twitter.com/zsFIFZUlS0 — Julie Rainey (@julierainey) July 28, 2014
pic.twitter.com/1rijGwZ0TS — Harry Garth (@HarryGarth) July 28, 2014
#Hove http://t.co/h6wtQbxDJU — laurencehill (@laurencehill) July 28, 2014
Flooding at trafalgar rd & coast rd Portslade @BHcitynews pic.twitter.com/TCLl5jXrqw
— Nicola Clements (@NicolaClements4) July 28, 2014
The water is just about ankle deep outside my front door. I know this … — Dan Wilson (@wilsondan) July 28, 2014
Cleared the drain 3 times and have been using buckets for an hour. pic.twitter.com/R5z49LQyez — Caroline Penn (@ThePennyDrops) July 28, 2014
#GMB don’t just protect jobs and services, we protect ducks too as @Donaldmclean18 safely rounds up the ducks!! pic.twitter.com/up97hTXP1W
— Jo.V (@cheepchitter) July 28, 2014
Does anyone know when this storm will be clearing up? Preston Park still being hit by thunders and heavy rain.
Does anyone know when this storm will be clearing up? Preston Park still being hit by thunders and heavy rain.
Preston Park area fairly calm now: still raining gently. Anyone know if undercliff to Rottingdean is flooded?
Preston Park area fairly calm now: still raining gently. Anyone know if undercliff to Rottingdean is flooded?
What happened in the marina? I heard a sailinboet was hit by the lighrning, is that true and do you know details?
What happened in the marina? I heard a sailinboet was hit by the lighrning, is that true and do you know details?
Hi Marian, I just called the marina, and they said they hadn’t heard anything like that, and that they’d know about it if it had happened.
Hi Marian, I just called the marina, and they said they hadn’t heard anything like that, and that they’d know about it if it had happened.
Hi Sue, thanks for your reply. I
Marian
Hi Sue, thanks for your reply. I
Marian