Storm Eunice in Suffolk: Look back on February 2022 winds

Suffolk was already recovering from a previous storm a few days earlier, Dudley, when it was hit by Eunice on Friday, February 18, 2022.

A man braves Storm Eunice on Felixstowe seafront (Image: Archant)

In the early hours, the Met Office issued a rare red warning for wind for about half of Suffolk, with the other part in a lesser amber zone.

The gusts started to pick up as the morning went on, forcing more than 100 schools across the county to close and the Orwell Bridge outside Ipswich to close entirely.

At about 11.30am, Suffolk County Council, emergency services and other public bodies declared a 'major incident' – meaning it was considered there was a heightened risk of serious harm, damage, disruption or threat to human life or welfare.

A van crashed near Newmarket in the high winds Picture: Suffolk police (Image: Suffolk police)

Some of the more striking images captured on the day were those of fallen trees blocking roads across Suffolk.

The occupants of a home in Gainsborough Street in Sudbury narrowly escaped injury after a huge tree collapsed on their property.

The fallen tree near Sudbury town centre Picture: Sarah Lucy Brown (Image: Archant)

The gales also caused some of the shrink wrap covering St Francis Tower in Ipswich to rip off, as another person was left in hospital after being struck by a falling tree in nearby Portman Road.

Emergency services were called after a crew member of a ship docked at the Port of Felixstowe was injured when a mooring rope came free.

A woman battles against the strong winds in Felixstowe Picture: Sarah Lucy Brown (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

The port remained closed until the following morning.

East Anglian-based forecaster Weatherquest revealed the highest official wind speed recorded in Suffolk was 71mph at Wattisham, south of Stowmarket.

Shrink wrap torn off St Francis Tower in Ipswich Picture: Contributed (Image: Adam Rake/Cory Brothers)

However, several unofficial readings suggested the true peak speed in the county could have been much higher – with 80mph reported at a sailing club in Aldeburgh.