Gale-force winds and showers batter London

Storm-driven giant waves batter the sea front threatening residential homes and hotels at the Welsh coastal town of Aberystwyth, West Wales, yesterday. Forecasters warned there is no end in sight to the worst storms in two decades.

London Evening Standard/London

London was hit by gale-force winds yesterday as the worst winter storms in Britain for more than 20 years continued to ravage the country.

Winds of up to 40mph and heavy showers battered the capital, with experts predicting gusts could reach 50mph before tomorrow.

The Thames Barrier remained closed to protect London from tidal surges while the army worked to build up flood defences in Kent, with soldiers from 36 Engineer Regiment and 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles helping fill sandbags.

A total of 106 flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency and a further 236 areas placed on flood alert.

Emma Compton, a forecaster for the Met Office, said: “It’s another windy day with further showers and heavy winds. There is a risk of hail and thunder as well, but it should improve throughout the week.”

A gale is classed as winds of between 39 and 46mph, rising to a strong gale, storm, violent storm and finally hurricane force above 74mph. Near hurricane-force winds of up to 70mph, expected on the west and south-west coast of Britain and the east coast of Northern Ireland, will cause “exceptionally high waves” of up to 30ft (9 metres), the Met Office said.

The ferocious weather, which began over Christmas, has left widespread damage, with around 220 properties flooded so far.

Anne McIntosh, chairman of the Commons environmental select committee, described the country as being in the “eye of an emergency”. Three people have already died in the storms, while the search continued yesterday for 18-year-old London student Harry Martin, who went missing while trying to photograph the conditions.