Cornwall storm surge and flooding: ROUND UP + PICTURES + UPDATES

Sea watchers putting themselves in danger at Mullion 'beggars belief': PICTURE

Strong winds bring tree down at busy Falmouth roundabout: PICTURES

Lighting strikes sets home on fire

Power cuts due to electricity transformer on fire near Penzance

Lightning strikes stop all trains in and out of Cornwall

Huge waves hit Porthleven on New Year's Day: PICTURES

Man dies in A30 crash

Search for holidaymaker called off as body found at Porthleven Beach - UPDATE

The period of danger from a storm surge driven by high winds  and tides is now over, with the Environment Agency standing down the severe flood warnings for the north and south Cornwall coasts, Bude, Wadebridge and Truro.

However with strong winds still blowing and a yellow alert of rain and wind still in place, people are reminded to be aware and take care on the roads.

After the high tides this morning many parts of Cornwall awoke to flooding.

While a severe weather warning was in place, the surge caused less damage than was feared.

See below for images and updates

Sandbags at the ready on Coventry Road in Flushing.

Residents sandbagged their homes but this is a regular occurrence during spring tides and residents were well prepared. Luckily the high tide did not combine with strong winds to cause any damage.

Newquay however has taken a battering.

Picture by @surfnspear via Twitter

The storm surge hits St Ives by @ThomasStivesman.

• Firefighters from Bude Community Fire Station attended The Strand, Bude where approximately 100 metres of road was affected by tidal flooding. The fire crews stood-by to ensure public safety and confirmed that there were no reports of properties flooded.

• One fire appliance from St Mawes Community Fire Station attended a report of floodwater entering houses just after 8am this morning. Firefighters pumped floodwater from the properties into the neighbouring Percuil River. The firefighters left the scene at 8.50am.

• Among the first hit was the A39, with standing water causing problems in the early hours. Fowey was also hit by floodwater.
• Fire crews were called out to Beach Road at Perranporth to deal with domestic flooding and used a light portable pump to remove floodwater.
• Carnsew Road in Hayle is blocked due to overturned van and flooding at Chenhalls Road. The causeway is impassable.
• There is also flooding on Beach Road around Beachfield Avenue in Newquay, near the aquarium.  Sea front roads, including the Towan Beach promenade were impassable at high tide.
• There is flooding on the A390 around Heron Close at Tresillian near the Wheel Inn. The road is just passable because of flooding from the Tresillian River. Tresillian Bridge is just passable with care.
• The B3276 at Mawgan Porth is blocked due to flooding.
• The B3273, River Street, Mevagissey is also closed due to flooding.
• Hazardous driving conditions at the A30 at Highgate Hill due to hail and spray.​

Looe flooding by Cornwall Councillor Edwina Hannaford

Officers from Cornwall Council’s Highways, Environment, Fire and Rescue and Emergency Management services are monitoring the situation closely and are on standby to deal with any problems.

Cornwall’s emergency management centre at New County Hall in Truro was opened at midnight last, with the Centre becoming fully operational from 4 am this morning  to provide a co-ordinated multi agency response.

Agencies are continuing to ask people to follow the advice on dealing with the potential severe weather, and are warning them not to drive through flood water. As well as running the risk of either damaging or being stuck in their vehicles, driving through flood water can also create waves which can then affect properties. The Council is also advising people to avoid walking along coastal paths and promenades to avoid the risk of being swept out to sea and to stay away from the shoreline and cliff edges.

Porthleven outer harbour just after high tide this morning: Picture Andrew Wallis