Being a bit further NE from you it's a tad slower to ease down. Worst was around 5am but still big gusts

A slight lull here as the main batch of strong winds moves away east. TBH it wasn't as bad as I was fearing, although the lights have been flickering ominously!

Here's the max gusts so far today from WeatherOnline:

Thorney Island (3 m)     73 mph
Guernsey Airport (101 m)     70 mph
Isle of Portland (52 m)     69 mph
Bournemouth (10 m)     67 mph
Jersey Airport (84 m)     65 mph
St. Catherine's Point (24 m)     65 mph
Plymouth MtBatten (50 m)     63 mph
Manston (50 m)     62 mph
Middle Wallop (91 m)     61 mph
RAF Odiham (118 m)     61 mph
Shoreham Airport (2 m)     61 mph
Langdon Bay (117 m)     61 mph
Royal Marines Base Chivenor (6 m)     60 mph
Liscombe (347 m)     60 mph
MoD Boscombe Down (126 m)     60 mp

As of now, xcweather shows some higher figures:

Shoreham: 69

Lydd: 63

Langdon Bay: 68

Manston: 69

Farnborough: 63

Even Gravesend's reached 55!

Horrible disgusting vile vomit inducing sh*te, if you ask me. Now that's my impression of Richardabdn done, indeed it goes without saying about the wind, I can't really add any more to what has been said in here. However, there has been some saving graces (this is me trying to be positive as much as I can) . . .
 
1) It kicked in at night time, at a time when everyone are safely tucked up in bed and thus should think twice about heading out upon awakening.
2) Now that is veering into as a SW at this end, I am slightly becoming slightly more sheltered by the hilly built up part nearby, rather than straight in from the Channel like it has been doing all last night.
3) There doesn't appear to have been that much in the way of rain (4.2 mm in all) so flooding isn't being an issue at this end.
4) How the whole thing has been - and still being - forecast with dead on accuracy so we were more prepared for it. Certainly can't call it a Michael Fish moment.  I do find it heart warming on how us amateur and professional forecasters alike have all worked together to keep the forecast as accurate as possible as well as reporting on going ons with very little in the way of bickering.

A wild and windy night.  Meanwhile Katie raged outside too.

Currently very windy with gusts around 70mph at Langdon and the roar as the crenellations of Dover Castle shred the gale.

A real roarer and whistler.  No branches off my trees yet.

Here's some mood music:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8xk_AkeP5c from another Kate.

Highest gust at Needles Old Battery 170kph (106mph) in the hour to 5am

There was a 165kph gust in the following hour

flooding in unexpected areas of the garden and fences down next door  . I haven't ventured out yet but I'm expecting damage.

How reliable is that instrument? In the same period St Catherine's reported a peak of 65mph which is more in keeping with the area stations.

Also Radio Solent reporting 106mph at Gatwick. I have no idea where that one is from?

Yes, surprised at flooding in garden here and would of expected the ground to take it after a dry two weeks. Storm rages on. Lots of felt off garden sheds and guttering hanging down from a house on the corner. Haven't looked outside the front of the house yet.

Can hear this constant roar, then every now again the winds make it down, like a sting that could be happening in places?

We have snow here in the heavier bursts of rain. Pictures of settling snow on the M6 in Cheshire. Also the M6 is closed near Stafford due to flooding. More a rain problem here but gusty winds too

Things have taken a turn for the worst outside, violent gusts and trees in full motion.  Hopefully this is the worst passing through as the wind veers from SW to W.

Very reliable and is an official Met Office site. By way of comparison during the Valentine's Day storm in 2014 this site recorded a gust of 109mph and during the St Jude's storm in October 2013 99mph. So this event is quite similar to both. More trees came down in the St Jude's storm of course as they were in full leaf.

Get ready for some really wild gusts soon - there's a sharply-defined line of heavy rain coming your way soon.

EDIT: There are some ferocious gusts here as well - typically going on for a minute or so, then it eases considerably as the stronger winds retreat upwards.

Looks like several thousand people are without power at the moment too. The way the lights are flickering here I may soon be joining them!

http://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/fault-map/

My guess is someone at Radio Solent doesn't know the difference between mph and kph.

A noteworthy event. Certainly comparable with the St Judes storm. Gusts locally between 65-70mph. My weather station mast that has been perfectly upright for 8 years is leaning at 45 degrees this morning and appears to be the only victim of the storm.

Trampoline and polytunnel still intact. 

Can report it is snowing here now

must be a bank holiday

Bird box down.  Hopefully unoccupied.

gusting over 70mph at thorney too😊