Storm Boelo Brings Fresh Travel Chaos and Emergency Callouts Across Sussex

Wind and weather warnings

Storm Boelo brought severe weather to Sussex over the weekend as the county continued to recover from Storm Austen. The Met Office warned that winds reached 80mph, with flying debris posing a risk to life. Buildings, power supplies and travel services all faced potential disruption.

An amber wind warning was issued for Scotland and the North West of England from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, though the warning for Sussex was less severe.

Rail services disrupted

Fallen trees and debris caused significant disruption to railway services across Sussex. A tree blocked the line from Angmering towards Littlehampton and Ford, whilst another blocked the route between Eastbourne and Lewes.

Signalling failures caused by severe weather affected services to Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Uckfield, Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven. Network Rail provided replacement buses for affected passengers and warned that disruption could continue whilst the wind warning remained in place.

Emergency service response

Emergency services responded to a number of storm-related incidents across the county. In Worthing, strong winds brought down a tree branch onto overhead wires, prompting a response from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

A car overturned on Grinstead Lane in Lancing, requiring an emergency response. Separately, a collision on Western Road in Brighton brought emergency services to the scene.

Building on earlier damage

Storm Boelo compounded disruption caused by Storm Austen, which hit the county on Friday 23 October under a Met Office yellow weather warning. That storm caused widespread damage, including the collapse of a large section of Brighton's West Pier in the early hours of 23 October.

Hundreds of homes in south-west England remained without power following Storm Austen, though National Grid said it had restored electricity to 131,225 properties by 7pm on Saturday.

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