Storm Eunice Wreaks Havoc in Chiswick
Numerous trees and a brick wall down as high winds blast the area
Car took the full force of a falling tree on Thornhedge Road. Picture: Christopher Baker-Brian
Chiswick has not avoided Storm Eunice as strong gusts knocked over trees across the W4 area.
From the riverside to Bedford Park, a significant number of mature trees have been downed in the area this Friday (18 February).
A tree blocked the way on Riverside Drive before Hounslow Highways came to deal with it and in Bedford Park, the force of the wind was strong enough to blow over a brick wall on Esmond Road.
A tree appears to have bounced off a Mercedes convertible on the Orchard before laying across the road.
On Thornyhedge Road a large tree fell across a number of gardens and on the same road a car was crushed by another tree downed.
The wind started to pick up in the morning and became particularly intense from around 10am to 2pm. Even after 4pm when the Met Office’s red warning was due to expire the gusts remained exceptionally strong.
A large tree falls next to the A316. Picture: Arkadiusz Jedrzejewski
The wind was strong enough to take down a brick wall on Esmond Road
Chiswick House and Gardens was completely closed but the trust hoped to reopen the gates by 8.30am on Saturday. Hogarth's House was also closed on Friday.
The management of Gunnersbury Park was more conservative saying that it was intending to remain closed until Monday morning.
The Food Market as Dukes Meadows is open as normal this Sunday (20 February) as the forecast for the day is for a 'fresh breeze but The Cheese Market on the same day on Chiswick High Road has been cancelled. The organisers say this is because Hounslow Council are not permitting outdoor events at the weekend due to bad weather.
A tree down on Riverside Drive. Picture: Hounslow Highways. Right - a car is damaged by a falling tree on the Orchard. Picture: Gary Malcolm
Fences down on Sutton Court Road. Picture: Alison Atmore
The Royal Parks, including Richmond Park, were closed on Friday.
Network Rail services in London were suspended on Friday including the trains operated by South Western Railway. The train company says that winds of over 90 miles per hour have caused over 50 fallen trees to block routes across its network over the last few days. With further severe weather expected, a 50mph speed restriction remains in place on Sunday although it is planning to operate services on all routes except those which have engineering works.
A fallen tree on Rusthall Avenue (left). A tree falls across Thornyhedge Road gardens (right)
Please send any good pictures of storm related disruption to editor@chiswickw4.com.
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February 20, 2022