Daniel Ruston

It's been raining on and off all day here in not very sunny Sussex, 23 mm so far and we have just had some rumbles of thunder and it is very dark indeed. Wind is gusty and coming and going. Met Office have a Flash Warning out for this area for heavy rain tonight - 20 mm in 3 hours possible.

Have spent an enjoyable morning down on the East Sussex coast around the Eastbourne area. Beachy Head and Birling Gap are very exposed and the wind here was very strong and gusty, my hand held anemometer recorded a highest wind speed of 44.6mph Force 8 Gale this morning. Near high tide the foam from the sea was being lifted right up the cliff at Birling Gap and over the top of the Hotel! The sea was pounding the bottom of the cliffs along much of the Seven Sisters and that was before high tide. I then went to the East of Eastbourne to Pevensey Bay where there were some very big waves which were creeping over onto the very top of the beach. The forecast on TV says the winds will continue all afternoon so may have to go back to the coast again later!