Striking pictures taken on the coast today capture the moment the tide surged forward – smashing against the pier in Felixstowe.
Wet and windy weather has battered parts of Suffolk and north Essex all day, with rainfall totals rising to 16mm in eastern areas.
Motorists faced fresh travel chaos this morning as gusts forced the Orwell Bridge to shut.
Drivers reported being stuck in gridlock across Ipswich this morning after Highways England announced they would be closing it.
It re-opened to traffic at around 7.30am.
Meanwhile, dog walkers in Felixstowe were soaked by waves as they crashed against the beach in the stormy conditions.
In Writtle, near Chelmsford, 15mm of rainfall was recorded by forecasters – while further south in Shoeburyness, the highest wind gust for the eastern region was recorded at 46mph.
However, the tide is about to turn, forecasters believe – and warmer weather is on its way.
We spoke to Norwich-based Weatherquest for an updated forecast this afternoon.
• Read more about what to expect over the bank holiday weekend here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here