Rain, rain go away...

Friday 06 March 2020

Buckets worth - yes that's right, buckets worth - of rain poured on Guernsey yesterday, as streets were blocked with flood water, trees came down, landslides blocked public footpaths and ceiling tiles in a supermarket fell in.

The island was lashed with wind and rain on Wednesday night, and throughout Thursday.

Before many people's days had even started, the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre had posted on social media to let people know which roads were closed, and what diversions should be taken. 

But the roads were not the only thing affected by the rain. The steps up to the Cow's Horn above the old Aquarium are still blocked because of a landslide. Part of the wall holding the earth bank up, and the steps have been damaged and made impassable. 

A spokesperson for Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services said yesterday: "Engineers from States Property Services have been inspecting the area today.  It is likely that the soft cliff will require stabilisation work before the steps and walls can be reinstated. Walkers are asked to take the cliff path between Clarence Battery, Belvedere and Val de Terres whilst the steps are closed.

"Heavy rainfall over the last few months has left soft cliffs and roadside earth banks all around the island vulnerable to subsiding. ACLMS are inspecting cliff paths to assess their condition and will advise through the media if there are any areas which should be avoided on safety grounds."

Pictured: The steps up to the Cow's Horn are blocked following the landslide.

Alongside the landslide, there has been reports of cliff paths becoming bogged down and muddy in the rain. The spokesperson added: "During this very wet weather some cliff and coastal paths may be deep with water and mud, steps may also be very muddy and walkers should consider their own safety, particularly if they are walking during early mornings and evenings when light levels are low.

"Soft cliffs of loose clays and small stones at Fermain, Moulin Huet, Petit Bot and Portelet, can also collapse without warning, particularly after periods of heavy rain.  These soft cliffs may also contain large boulders, which are unseen until a fall occurs."

Other victims of the rough weather included a tree next to the bus lay-by at the Grammar School. This needed to be urgently tended to yesterday.

Pictured: As usual, the West Coast wasn't spared by the weather. 

On the West Coast, the wind hit some buildings hard. Inside the Iceland at Cobo, a couple of ceiling tiles came down and had to be cleared away. A spokesperson for sandpiper said no one was injured. (Pictured below)

Pictured top: Ceiling tiles inside the Iceland at Cobo came down during the bad weather.