Three severe - or "danger to life"- flood warnings were in place in Dorset, along with 100 or so lesser warnings in England, Scotland and Wales.
A night of rain and exceptionally high tides overwhelmed defences in Dorset, with Chiswell's flood siren sounded.
One English Channel coastguard said she had never seen such a prolonged storm.
Karen Bosman, watch officer at Solent coastguard, also told the BBC there were forecasts for more high winds of up to 50mph on Tuesday that would whip up the sea.
The Heights Hotel also opened its doors as a place of refuge for those needing to move to higher ground.
The causeway, which links the Weymouth mainland to Portland, was closed overnight because of tidal flooding.
A spectacular display of lightning lit up the sky among ferocious waves and strong winds this morning, with the full effect of nature's storm last night clear for all to see.
Places like the Cove House Inn pub near the sea wall are now very exposed during high tide, BBC reported.
Last night, one wave actually hit the pub. Luckily the shutters were closed but some water did get in, so there is concern for what lies on the horizon.
A clean-up operation is under way in Aberystwyth after storms battered the coastal town on Monday night.
The 250 people who were evacuated from their seafront homes have also now been told they can return.
Dorset Police told families in the area to move to upstairs rooms facing away from the sea.
Other areas affected included some Somerset villages which were cut off; Cornwall, where waves of up to 27ft (8m) were recorded and some properties flooded and Salisbury in Wiltshire, where some residents had to leave their homes.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
