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ADVANCE WEATHER WARNING The Met Office has issued yellow severe weather warnings this weekend for Northern Ireland, south Scotland and west England & Wales, named Storm Kathleen.

STORM KATHLEEN Storm Kathleen may bring difficult driving conditions, with gusts of up to 80km/h expected, affecting motorists travelling during the Easter school holidays.

OPERATION BROCK The M20 will close overnight from 8pm Sun to 6am Mon for Operation Brock, designed to keep the M20 and other Kent roads moving when travel to the English Channel is disrupted.

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• Wotton (0.16mi)
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• Elmbridge (0.79mi)
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• Hucclecote (1.23mi)
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• Abbeydale (1.63mi)
• Severn (1.8mi)
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10 thoughts on “m5 travel news: live traffic updates and roadworks”.

Hi Im Travling To Exminster from Bristol tomorrow on the m5 eny advice mite try 4 or 5 in the morning.what do you think

Not sure what happened but the traffic is mad

Roadworks have just started on the roundabout at junction 9 M5 which has caused chaos to the surrounding roads leading to/from the roundabout. It normally takes me 3/4 minutes to get onto the M5, last night (5.30pm) it took an hour!!

is the m5 southbound between j21 and j22 closed at night? We live along the A370 and lorries have been thundering past from about 2200 onwards.

Constant traffic jams from j2 Oldbury towards j1. I believe the cause is the 60 speed limit imposed on the slim premise of air quality. These jams cause more Co2 than if the limit was at 70

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Earthquake in nyc area live updates: 4.0 magnitude tremors felt 8 hours after quake, from philadelphia to long island.

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Palpable, 4.0 magnitude aftershocks of a morning earthquake Friday were felt from Philadelphia to Long Island, NY, at around 6 p.m. — about eight hours after a 4.8 magnitude quake hit the area mid-morning.

A rare earthquake shook the New York area Friday morning, rattling parts of the Big Apple, Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.

The preliminary 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, around 10:23 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey .

The site later reported that a 2.0 aftershock was felt in Bedminster, N.J, around 1 p.m. Two other aftershocks, another 2.0 and a 1.8 happened in the afternoon, but are “normal and are not expected to cause further damage,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

What to know about the earthquake

• NYC and tri-state rocked by biggest area earthquake since 1884, sending terrified residents into the streets
• Travel chaos caused by tri-state area earthquake: Flights grounded, Holland Tunnel closed
• Scary security video captures earthquake rattling New Jersey
• Yankee Stadium ‘definitely felt’ earthquake ahead of home opener: ‘The field was shaking’
• Totally nuts! Pennsylvania man was getting a vasectomy when 4.8 earthquake struck

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Northeast earthquake

Rare 4.8 magnitude quake rattles Northeast

By Elise Hammond , Leinz Vales and Matt Meyer , CNN

4.0 magnitude aftershock recorded in New Jersey, USGS says

From CNN's Brandon Miller

An aftershock of a preliminary magnitude 4.0 has struck just southwest of Gladstone, New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey .

It happened at about 5:59 p.m. ET, USGS said.

The aftershock comes nearly 8 hours after the main shock of 4.8 magnitude this morning. There have been at least 10 aftershocks, though most were in the 1.8 to 2.2 magnitude range.

No injuries or major damage in Northeast after morning quake in New Jersey. What to know to get caught up

From CNN staff

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled buildings across parts of the US Northeast on Friday morning, according to the US Geological Survey, with tremors felt from Washington, DC to New York City and to Maine.

It was the third-largest earthquake recorded in the area in the last five decades and the strongest in New Jersey i n more than 240 years , the USGS said. But with authorities reporting little or no damage, and minimal travel disruptions, people soon resumed their everyday lives.

Here's what to know:

• New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy said there are limited reports of damage and "little to no injuries" in the state. The USGS recorded at least six aftershocks in the immediate area of the initial earthquake. In an area more than 30 miles from the epicenter, three neighboring homes in Newark were evacuated after residents reported structural damage, according to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé.
• New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul said there were no "life-threatening situations" after the earthquake and no reports of damaged buildings . There was one report of a gas line leak, but so far there's no “major” infrastructure impact, state officials said . New York City Mayor Eric Adams also said there have not been any reports of injuries and told people to " go about their normal day ." Additionally, all aspects of the New York City transit system were operating safely, said Metropolitan Transport Authority CEO Janno Lieber.
• Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Police Department received "over 200 calls" from 911 "in a very short period of 20 minutes," following the earthquake, according to Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. But, there were no injuries reported in the city, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said.
• Connecticut: State officials did not report any significant damage. Emergency management officials said their operations center was partially activated as agencies inspected key infrastructure points.
• Travel: Runways at the three main airports servicing the New York City area were inspected and cleared, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Port Authority also said there were no operational or physical impacts to the bridges and tunnels. Amtrak said its trains were r unning at normal speeds after restrictions were put in place for track inspections.
• Widespread impact: The shaking was felt by millions of people across hundreds of miles of the Northeast — a phenomenon made more likely by a few factors, including the geology of the region itself, according to the USGS. Rocks in the eastern US are much older, denser and harder, making them more efficient conduits of the seismic energy released by an earthquake, allowing it to travel in a more potent form over longer distances, the USGS says.

Amtrak trains resume running at normal speeds

From CNN's Pete Muntean

Amtrak trains are back to operating at normal speeds after an earthquake in New Jersey on Friday, the company said.

It said it started inspecting its tracks shortly after 11 a.m. ET, and put speed restrictions in place throughout the region. Amtrak said it has now completed those inspections.

“As of 3:30 PM ET, All inspections have been completed and service has been restored to normal speed. Residual delays should be expected,” Amtrak  posted  on X.

At least 6 aftershocks recorded following New Jersey earthquake, USGS reports

From CNN’s Samantha Beech, Brandon Miller and Taylor Ward

There have been at least six aftershocks in the hours following the New Jersey earthquake Friday morning, according to United States Geological Survey data. 

The initial earthquake was felt in northern New Jersey just before 10:30 a.m. ET, and the aftershocks were all recorded in the immediate area of the earthquake, USGS said.

According to USGS, the largest of the six aftershocks was 2.2 magnitude, recorded just after 1:30 p.m. ET.

Here's a timeline (all times are ET):

• 10:23 a.m.: The initial 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred
• 11:20 a.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
• 11:37 a.m.: 1.8 magnitude aftershock
• 11:49 a.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
• 12:31 p.m.: 1.8 magnitude aftershock
• 1:14 p.m.: 2.0 magnitude aftershock
• 1:32 p.m.: 2.2 magnitude aftershock

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a social media post that "aftershocks of these size are normal and are not expected to cause further damage."

The governor said there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

See how people in the Northeast reacted when the earthquake hit

From CNN's Jeremy Moorhead and Sean Clark

When an earthquake rattled buildings across the Northeast Friday morning, stunned residents described initially thinking a passing tractor-trailer or freight train was passing them before they realized it was something more.

There were reports of the 4.8 magnitude quake being felt from Philadelphia to New York City, according to the US Geological Survey.

See how some people reacted:

3 neighboring homes in New Jersey evacuated after reporting structural damage, offical says 

From CNN’s Nic F. Anderson and David Goldman

Three neighboring homes in Newark, New Jersey, have been evacuated after residents reported structural damage following this morning’s earthquake, according to the local public safety director. 

Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé told CNN no injuries have been reported after firefighters responded to reports of damage at the homes in an area more than 30 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter. 

He said 10 families were relocated from the buildings, including 25 adults and three children.

Fragé added that all Newark city buildings, including City Hall and recreation centers, are closed. He said the city is inspecting buildings for any potential damage and power outages. 

Also in New Jersey’s Essex County, in Montclair, officials believe the earthquake caused a water main break, according to an update from the Office of Emergency Management for the Township of Montclair. The OEM said the water bureau is working to repair the line. 

The Montclair OEM said authorities have conducted a damage assessment of the township and there are no signs of damage to the infrastructure and all schools and municipal properties report no damage.

Today's earthquake was the strongest in New Jersey in more than 240 years

From CNN's Elliana Hebert, Sara Tonks and Eric Zerkel

The rare 4.8 earthquake that struck northern New Jersey Friday was the third-strongest to strike the state, according to CNN analysis of US Geological Survey data.

The Friday morning earthquake also marked the strongest since 1783, more than 240 years ago. Two 5.1 magnitude temblors are the only stronger quakes in the state — one in 1755 and another in 1783. Both happened before New Jersey became a state in December 1787, but happened in the geographic area that now comprises the state's boundaries.

The quake is the third-strongest to hit the Northeast in 50 years and the 10th-strongest of all time in the region, USGS data shows.

Earthquakes in New Jersey and the region are rare. There have only been 24 earthquakes of 2.5 magnitude or greater in New Jersey since 1700.

All aspects of New York City transit system operating safely after earthquake, MTA chief says

From CNN's Samantha Beech

All aspects of the New York City transit system are operating safely following this morning’s earthquake, the Metropolitan Transport Authority, which runs the city's subway and other forms of public transit, said.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said every part of the transit system operated safely during the earthquake, as well.

He said initial facility inspections have been completed, including inspections of the seven bridges the MTA operate.

“I want to emphasize those were designed to withstand much stronger seismic impact than we experienced today,” he added.

According to the  MTA website , MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T) serves more than 900,000 vehicles on an average day. In 2019, it carried more traffic than any bridge and tunnel authority in the nation — more than 329 million vehicles, the MTA says. 

Lieber said MTA frontline staff have been directed to report any abnormalities in the system, but he said nothing had been flagged so far. 

There's a low likelihood of aftershocks following today's quake, New York City's emergency chief says

There is a low likelihood of aftershocks following Friday's 4.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled several Northeast cities, New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol said. 

Iscol, however, urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant.

“If you are outside during an aftershock, please move to an open area, away from buildings, trees and power lines. If you are driving, pull over to a safe location," he said at a news conference Friday alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Iscol said there were no major impacts or safety events related to the earthquake, and added that New Yorkers can call 311 to report any damage. 

The quake, he said, triggered the activation of the city's emergency response teams and prompted officials to issue guidance to the public. 

“We activated our protocols for this earthquake, we immediately began coordinating with all city, state, federal and our utility partners. Public notifications were sent out both by Notify NYC and our wireless emergency alert system,” he said.

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4.8 magnitude earthquake rattles NYC, New Jersey: Live updates

NEW YORK – A 4.8 magnitude earthquake recorded in New Jersey that shook residents in surrounding states and New York City on Friday morning was one of the strongest in state history.

The temblor was reported about 5 miles north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, at about 10:23 a.m. Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 45 miles from New York City, where residents reported shaking furniture and floors.

“Earthquakes in this region are uncommon but not unexpected. It’s likely people near the epicenter are going to feel aftershocks for this earthquake in the magnitude 2-3 range, and there’s a small chance there can be an earthquake as large or larger, following an earthquake like this,” Paul Earle, a seismologist at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program told reporters. “In terms of our operations, this is a routine earthquake … Immediately we knew this would be of high interest and important to people who don’t feel earthquakes a lot.”

People reported feeling the shaking as far north as Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, following the quake, according to USGS. Scientists said those in the affected area should listen to local emergency officials and be prepared to seek cover if aftershocks occur.

“If you feel shaking, drop, cover and hold,” Earle said.

No major disruptions or damage have been reported in New Jersey or New York.

"We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency," said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

President Joe Biden spoke with Murphy about the earthquake and the White House is monitoring the situation.

“He thinks everything's under control,” Biden told reporters before leaving the White House for a trip to Baltimore. “He’s not too concerned about it, the governor of New Jersey, so things are all right.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the quake was felt throughout New York, and officials are assessing impacts and any potential damage.

In Yonkers, New York, Mayor Mike Spano said City Hall shook but no injuries were reported.

"A few moments ago our entire house shook for about 25 seconds or so here in Mendham, New Jersey," former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

USGS is still investigating the exact fault line at the center of Friday’s quake and said it occurred in a region with dozens of fault lines that were more active millions of years ago.

4.0 magnitude aftershock strikes hours after earthquake

Officials in New York and New Jersey alerted residents to an aftershock Monday evening, nearly eight hours after the earthquake.

A 4.0 magnitude aftershock slammed New Jersey at around 6 p.m., with an epicenter about four miles southwest of Gladstone, according to the USGS. New York City’s emergency notification system alerted residents to the aftershock minutes later, urging people to remain indoors and call 911 if injured.

Hochul said there were no reports of serious damage after the aftershock, and officials were continuing to assess critical infrastructure.

The aftershock Monday evening was at least the third that USGS recorded after the quake struck.

As of Friday afternoon, the USGS aftershock forecast predicted a 36% chance of aftershocks at a 3.0 magnitude or higher, an 8% chance of aftershocks at a 4.0 magnitude or higher, and a 1% chance for aftershocks at a magnitude of 5.0 or higher over the next week.

USGS scientists said informal observations can be a big help in understanding earthquakes, especially in a region where they’re less common.

“We encourage people to fill out the ‘Did You Feel It?’ reports on our website,” said Sara McBride, a scientist with the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. “This citizen science project is critical in terms of building our knowledge around earthquakes.”

By midafternoon on Friday, the agency said it had received more than 161,000 reports, and extrapolated that the quake had been felt by millions of people. McBride acknowledged that earthquakes can be nerve-wracking for people who don’t live in seismologically active regions, and said knowledge is power in combatting that discomfort.

“The best thing you can do to relieve any unsettling feelings you might have is to learn how to protect yourself during shaking and how to prepare for earthquakes in the future,” she said.

Man getting vasectomy during earthquake recounts experience

One Horsham, Pennsylvania, man shared his unusual earthquake experience, saying the tremors hit when he was in the middle of receiving a vasectomy.

"The surgeon sort of froze and all of us kind of seemed a bit confused," Justin Allen told USA TODAY . "Even when the surgeon said 'that’s gotta be an earthquake,' I thought he was joking."

Luckily, Allen's doctor was able to resume the procedure after a brief pause, and the rest went off without a hitch. Now recovering at home, Allen said it's an experience no one involved will forget, especially because his social media post about the incident has since gone viral.

"My wife says that 'this is a clear and obvious sign that we should not have any more kids,'" Allen said.

New Jersey resident thought sound from earthquake was an explosion

Madeline Nafus had just finished feeding her 7-week-old baby when, simultaneously, she was thrown off balance and the loudest sound she’d ever heard rang out.

“I thought it was either an explosion or a bombing because of how loud it was,” said Nafus, who lives in Long Valley, New Jersey, a few miles from the earthquake's epicenter. “It was just terrifying.”

Nafus, 29, watched as her light fixtures swung and wine glasses, framed photos and a 6-foot elk head crashed onto the floor. Feeling as if her “house was going to crumble,” she picked up her baby boy, grabbed some blankets and headed outside. Meanwhile, her friend came running downstairs and picked up Nafus’ quivering dog, Olivia, a small golden doodle.

After about 15 seconds, the rumbling went away and only occasional, minor tremors could be felt. Nafus called her husband, who was teaching a golf lesson at the time, and then their 2-year-old’s day care.

“They said the children were all confused and asking a lot of questions but that they were OK,” she said.'

How common are East Coast quakes?

Earthquakes are less frequent in the eastern part of the country than in the west, but they have occurred in every state east of the Mississippi River, according to the USGS.

"Since colonial times people in the New York – Philadelphia – Wilmington urban corridor have felt small earthquakes and suffered damage from infrequent larger ones," according to the USGS. "Moderately damaging earthquakes strike somewhere in the urban corridor roughly twice a century, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly every two to three years."

USGS officials also said that even smaller-magnitude quakes are more likely to be felt more widely on the East Coast than similar size quakes on the West Coast due to the rock properties of eastern soil, which can cause concern to East Coasters not used to the tremors.

Rocks in the eastern part of the country are much older than in the west, by up to millions of years. Those older rocks have been exposed to more extreme temperatures and pressure, and faults have had more time to heal. Seismic waves travel across the resulting harder and denser faults much more efficiently, so the effects of a quake are felt across a larger area. In the West, faults are newer and absorb more of the seismic wave energy without spreading as far.

Quake felt in Massachusetts

In Auburn, Massachusetts, more than 200 miles from the earthquake's epicenter, Jerry Steinhelper was on a video call for work when his house began to tremble. His dog Maize started barking, and books and trinkets fell from their shelves. He looked out the window and saw trees shaking.

“I thought at first it may be ice falling off the roof. But it kept going and the entire house was shaking,” he told USA TODAY. “Then I just knew it was an earthquake.”

Steinhelper, 55, lived in San Diego in the 1980s and experienced temblors there, but he’s never felt one in Massachusetts, where he’s been for over 25 years.

“It was an interesting 10 to 15 seconds,” he said.

'It felt like a plane crashed outside' near epicenter

Nicole Kravitz, 33, was baking muffins at the cafe she co-owns with her husband in New Jersey when the floor began to shake. She and the cooks looked at each other for a few moments, and then at some stacked plates and glasses that had started vibrating.

Their eatery, Branchburg's Best, is located in New Jersey's Somerset County, near the epicenter of Friday’s earthquake.

“It felt like a plane crashed outside,” she said. “No one knew what was happening.”

Some workers ran out the door to see if something had smashed into the building while she checked the basement for damage. Meanwhile, Patrick Tucker, her husband, who was picking up beef from a nearby farm, watched agitated chickens and cows run around in their pens, visibly shaken by the quake.

Kravitz said the intensity of the earthquake made her feel like she was back in Southern California, where she had lived for several years before she returned to her home state in 2016.

Quake was one of the strongest to ever impact New Jersey

Friday's earthquake was the most significant in New Jersey since 1884 , when an Aug. 10 earthquake somewhere near Jamaica Bay, New York, toppled chimneys and moved houses off their foundations as far as Rahway, New Jersey, 30 miles away.

Other than that quake, there were only  three earthquakes in modern history  that caused damage in the state: 1737 (New York City), 1783 (west of New York City) and 1927 (New Jersey coast near Asbury), according to New Jersey Office of Emergency Management records.

The Dec. 19, 1737 earthquake is believed by modern experts to have been a 5.2 magnitude quake. Charted as taking place in the greater New York City area, some accounts say its epicenter was near Weehawken. State records show it threw down chimneys. Chimneys were also hurled down during the Nov. 29, 1783 quake. Estimated at a 5.3 magnitude that originated in modern-day Rockaway Township, according to state records, it was felt from Pennsylvania to New England.

The Aug. 10, 1884 quake, estimated at a 5.2 magnitude was the last the state has seen of its significance and was felt from Virginia to Maine, according to state records.

  Read more about New Jersey's earthquake history.

– David M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com

New Jersey business owner describes worst quake ever felt but went right back to work

It was a busy day for La Bella Salon & Spa in Lebanon, New Jersey, when an earthquake struck near the rural township.

About a dozen stylists and customers, some whom were getting their hair dyed while others got manicures and eyelash extensions, all froze as the building rattled for about 30 seconds.

“People started to feel the shaking, and it got worse and worse. We were like ‘Oh, my god, what is going on?’" said shop owner Rosanne Drechsel. “I thought a truck hit the building or something.”

After the tremor subsided, nearly everyone in the building started receiving texts and phone calls from friends and family, Drechsel, 61, said.

Nothing was damaged and no one was injured, but Drechsel, who was born and raised in New Jersey, said it was “by far the worst earthquake” she had ever felt.

“We all went back to work and finished the appointments,” she said. “Customers are calling now to see if we're still open and if they can still make their appointments later on today.”

'It was scary': Quake rattles shelves in Brooklyn bodega

In Brooklyn, residents said they felt their buildings shake and many went outdoors after the rumbling stopped to check in with neighbors.

Julio Melo, a deli worker, said he thought the sounds of the earthquake resembled those of a large truck going down the street. But when Melo, 32, looked around and saw beer bottles rattling on store shelves, and a potted plant shimmy down the counter, he thought it might be something bigger, he told USA TODAY.

“I looked at my employee and he had the same tragic face on as me, it was scary,” he said at Jenesis’ Grocery Corp. in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

– Claire Thornton

Where was the earthquake felt?

Residents and officials said the earthquake was felt throughout New York, as well as in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. It was also felt as far away as Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 250 miles away from the reported epicenter.

Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx borough of New York, said the quake felt "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so."

"It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration," she said.

Earthquakes common in the region, but the size is unusual: Expert

Chuck Ver Straeten, a geologist and curator of sedimentary rocks at the New York State Museum, told USA TODAY it’s not surprising this earthquake happened where it did.

“New York, around New York City going into New Jersey, there’s a lot of earthquakes historically down there. Happens every year,” he said. But it’s less common for them to be of such a high magnitude. It’s not surprising that many people felt it, he said. Usually, earthquakes in the region are at a lower magnitude and less likely to be felt.

Ver Straeten said the real question now is if this is just a precursor to a larger quake.

“You never know what is the earthquake, what is a pre-earthquake, what is an earthquake happening after the main earthquake, you just have to see,” he said. “One slip along the rock fault, when one happens, it makes other areas around there more tense also and they start to slip and you slip again and slip again.”

But, he added, it would be unlikely for a larger quake to follow this one. In the Northeast, it’s more common for one large quake to be followed by smaller aftershocks, rather than a mounting series of tremors. 

What does magnitude mean in an earthquake?

Magnitude is a measurement of the strength of an earthquake . Officially it's called the Moment Magnitude Scale . It's a logarithmic scale , meaning each number is ten times as strong as the one before it. So a 5.2 earthquake is moderate while a 6.2 is strong.

The magnitude and effect of an earthquake, according to Michigan Technological University :

◾ Below 2.5: Generally not felt

◾ 2.5 to 5.4: Minor or no damage

◾ 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings

◾ 6.1 to 6.9: Serious damage

◾ 8.0 or greater: Massive damage, can totally destroy communities

Intensity scales, measured in Roman numerals, are used to describe how strong the earthquake felt to people in the area.

According to the California Earthquake Authority , an intensity of I is typically felt only under especially favorable conditions. A IV, which leads to light shaking, is felt indoors by many, but not typically outdoors. It might awaken some people at night and lead to a sensation like a truck striking a building. A parked car would rock. Intensities VI and above would be strong, frightening and felt by all, with the damage increasing up to a X where the shaking would be violent. Some well-built wooden structures would be destroyed and most masonry and frame structures along with their foundations would be ruined.

While you might have heard the term " the Richter Scale " used to describe earthquakes, it is no longer commonly used because it was only valid for certain earthquake frequencies and distance ranges.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Contributing: Reuters

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County cricket opening day: Lancs v Surrey, Kent v Somerset, and more – live

• Five players to watch | Sign up for The Spin newsletter
• And you can email Tanya or drop a post below the line
• 5h ago Close of play scores
• 8h ago Rain stops play at Edgbaston
• 9h ago Tea-timeish scores
• 9h ago Fifty for Jordan Cox
• 9h ago A hundred for Sam Northeast!
• 10h ago Government announces £35m investment in grass roots cricket
• 11h ago Shutting up shop at Canterbury
• 12h ago Lunchtime scores
• 12h ago Play abandoned for the day at Durham
• 12h ago First fifty of the season...
• 12h ago Play abandoned for the day at Old Trafford
• 14h ago Play at two grounds: Lord's and Edgbaston
• 14h ago Livestream links
• 14h ago Rain delays also at Canterbury and Trent Bridge
• 15h ago No play before lunch at Hove and off for the day at Derby
• 15h ago No play before lunch at Old Trafford
• 16h ago Preamble
• 16h ago Fixtures - Division One
• 16h ago Fixtures - Division Two

Congratulations to our day one centurions Sam Northeast and Kashif Ali, and to Dane Paterson for his five-fer. We’re back tomorrow for day two, may the weather be with us. Thanks for all the comments, good night!

Close of play scores

DIVISION ONE

Chester le Street : Durham v Hampshire play abandoned for the day

Canterbury : Kent v Somerset play abandoned for the day

Old Trafford : Lancashire v Surrey play abandoned for the day

Trent Bridge : Nottinghamshire v Essex 244-9

Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Worcestershire 316-7

DIVISION TWO

Derby : Derbyshire v Gloucestershire play abandoned for the day

Lord’s : Middlesex v Glamorgan 370-3

Hove : Sussex v Northamptonshire 95-2

Headingley : Yorkshire v Leicestershire 164-5

Rain stops play at Edgbaston

with Kashif Ali stuck on 95.

And Broad falls at Hove, a second for Seales. Northants 66-2.

Time for me to write up now for early Friday deadlines, but do keep chatting BTL!

In Division One, Kashi is in the nervous nineties, Rob Jones on 25, in Worcestershire’s 230-2 v Warwicks. While Nottinghamshire’s Paterson has 4-41, with Cox holding Essex’s batting together, joined by Rossington. Critchely out for 1, Walter for nought.

A dance around Division Two: three games in progress: Glamorgan 272-2 v Middlesex . At Hove Northants 56-1, with Broad and Procter so far seeing off Sussex’s Danny Lamb and Jack Carson – the one wicket to fall pocketed by West Indies Jayden Seales, while Ollie Robinson is looking up on pace from India.

At Headingley, Rishi Patel and Marcus HArris have taken Leicestershire to 43 …. I take that back, Patel has just fallen to Matt Milnes. Now 43-1.

Thanks to Romeo for pointing this out:

@tjaldred https://t.co/2G1JyJcIrY Refugees from Afghanistan in northern France receive cricket equipment donated from the UK via Project Front Foot https://t.co/kKruQ5iMpw and they smile. — Romeo Romeo Tango Ψιτιζεν οφ Νοςηερε (@RomeoCCLive) April 5, 2024

Worcestershire and Glamorgan fair rattling along. SACA’s Kashif Ali (76) has be joined by Lancs-ex Rob Jones at Edgbaston, Worcs 206-2 . While at Lord’s, Sam Northeast (127) presses on, accompanied by Kiran Carlson who I always think must be vaguely in England thoughts. Glamorgan 240-2

Tea-timeish scores

Trent Bridge : Nottinghamshire v Essex 174-4

Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Worcestershire 183-2

Lord’s : Middlesex v Glamorgan 234-2

Hove : Sussex v Northamptonshire 44-1

Headingley : Yorkshire v Leicestershire 12-0

I don’t think i t is unfair to say that Yorkshire’s bowling attack is a bit less stellar than their batting attack, but Coad and Fisher bowl some tight opening overs at Headingley, where the sun is sprinkling a little early-season warmth and Harry Brook is fielding at fourth slip. Leicestershire 12-0. While there has been another wicket at Trent Bridge. Cox still there on 57, but Critchley a third wicket for Paterson. Essex 174-4 at tea.

Fifty for Jordan Cox

A cracking start for the man who said he wanted to “do a Harry Brook” this season. Essex 156-2.

A hundred for Sam Northeast!

What a way for the new captain to start the season! Congratulations young Sam. This was what he said after being made captain

“It’s a huge honour and a privilege to take over as Red ball Captain building on the good work David Lloyd did for the Club.

“I look forward to working with Grant and Kiran on getting us into Division One. We aim to play an exciting front-foot style of cricket with a nice blend of youth and experience.” Glamorgan 200-2.

And there will be play at Headingley, where Yorkshire have won the toss and will bowl. I’m sure CCLive readers will remember this time last year when Leicestershire beat Yorks for the first time at Headingley since 1910, successfully chasing 389. It ended up being a beacon for a much more cheerful season for the Foxes.

Robinson fiddles with his necklace and tucks it into his shirt, four slips waiting for a nibble. Seems to be running in with a bit of a fizz. But Gay and Broad don’t play ball. Northants 5-0.

Try to navigate to the Sussex livestream but accidentally find myself on the website of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – where there is no cricket to be seen, even in tasteful black and white. Robinson’s first over goes for four.

Government announces £35m investment in grass roots cricket

The funding will include 16 all-weather cricket domes built in diverse communities where figures have indicated low levels of physical activity. And of that £35m , £10m will go to Chance to Shine.

“The announcement that £35m of new Government funding will be invested into cricket is hugely significant and will help more children and young people from all over England to take up the sport,” said the chief exec of Sport England Tim Hollingsworth.

“Positive experiences of PE at school can help develop life-long relationships with sport and physical activity. The expansion of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s primary and secondary schools programme – that’s opening up cricket to more state schools and ethnically diverse communities – comes at an important time.”

Sussex win the toss and will bowl at Hove, so a chance for Ollie Robinson to crank it up with the Kookaburra. An interesting interview with him in the Mail in which he admitted this was a pivotal season for him.

“I’m 30 now and in sport that’s not young anymore. I feel this is the last summer when I will get any slack. Going forward I have to perform, I have to be injury free and prove I’m the best bowler for the job. It’s probably make or break time for me.”

A three o’clock start at Hove due, weather permitting. At Trent Bridge, Dean Elgar duly collects his fifty on Essex debut, and fellow new boy Jordan Cox looking very sprightly too.

Hello there Andrew Benton in Los Baños !

“Just home after a very long week at work and am delighted to find you’ve got the county cricket blog going again, it had completely slipped my mind. Time flies. And good that it has!

“A question: Who are the stand-out overseas players this season, with any club?”

I’m sure people will have opinions BTL, but Lancs pulled a blinder with Nathan Lyon, Jason Holder at Worcs and Scott Boland at Durham are cracking signings , while Pujara and Shan Masood are bankers

Here is a full list, courtesy of Wisden .

Derbyshire: Blair Tickner (New Zealand, April – July 4) Durham: David Bedingham (South Africa), Scott Boland (Australia, April – July) Essex: Dean Elgar (South Africa), Simon Harmer (South Africa) Glamorgan: Mir Hamza (Pakistan, seven matches, April – May), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft (Australia), Zafar Gohar (Pakistan), Beau Webster (Australia, June – July) Hampshire: Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan), Kyle Abbott (South Africa), Michael Neser (Australia, June) Kent: Wes Agar (Australia, April – July), Xavier Bartlett (Australia, April – July) Lancashire: Tom Bruce (New Zealand), Nathan Lyon (Australia, seven matches, April – July) Leicestershire: Peter Handscomb (Australia), Wiaan Mulder (South Africa, from May), Marcus Harris (Australia, five matches, April – May)

Middlesex: None Northamptonshire: Karun Nair (India, seven matches, April – May), Prithvi Shaw (India, from June), Chris Tremain (Australia, four matches, April) Nottinghamshire: Dane Paterson (South Africa), Will Young (New Zealand, April – July) Somerset: Matt Renshaw (Australia, seven matches, April – May) Surrey: Sean Abbott (Australia, May – June), Kemar Roach (West Indies, seven matches, April – May) Sussex: Daniel Hughes (Australia, June – September), Nathan McAndrew (Australia, June – July), Cheteshwar Pujara (India, seven matches, April – May), Jayden Seales (West Indies, April – June 8), Jaydev Unadkat (India, five matches, August – September) Warwickshire: Hassan Ali (Pakistan, April – July) Worcestershire: Yadvinder Singh (India), Nathan Smith (New Zealand), Jason Holder (West Indies, five matches, April – May) Yorkshire: Shan Masood (Pakistan)

Let’s potter around the grounds:

Essex 66-2 – Elgar still there, sniffing a half century in the wind during his first Essex match.

Kashif Ali and Gareth Roderick both in the forties in Worcestershire’s 133-1. Jason Holder due to come in at No.7.

And four-an-over Glamorgan have lost Root and ul Hassan, but Northeast looking good for 76. Glamorgan 149-2.

Shutting up shop at Canterbury

Cycled home in relatively bright sunshine to find the washing on the line and two new books in the post – The Establishment boys by Barry Nicholls and the niche but intriguing Lost Cricket Stickers, in search of 1983’s World of Cricket Sticker Album Heroes by Matthew Appleby. In the meantime, they’ve also abandoned play for the day at Canterbury.

 “Happy new season Tanya!” And to you, Brian Withington. “Sad to see the recent news about Worcestershire CCC’s potential future move from New Road on a permanent basis ‘in search of higher ground’. My son’s partner just started work for the club in the same office as Ashley Giles this Wednesday and overheard some rather earnest conversations on the subject. “As I write I am informed that the big dome is going up over the square with the gas heaters to try to clear the remnants of the latest Easter weekend immersion. No reseeding yet, and it’s apparently normally a minimum nine week turnaround after flooding has cleared until the ground is fit for play. By way of a nostalgic but defiant lament to a much loved ground, I have attempted to capture Ashley Giles channelling his inner Liza (yes, she sang it before big Frank) as he contemplates the end of an era in the face of the combined forces of the River Severn and climate change “ New Road, New Road Start spreadin’ the news I’m leavin’ today We need to be away from it New Road, New Road These Wellington boots Are longing to stray Right from the very heart of it New Road, New Road I want to wake up In a city that doesn’t flood And find I’m safe on a hill Top of the heap These river-side blues Receding away We’ll make a brand new start of it Away from New Road We just can’t take it there We’ll make it Dry somewhere So long to you New Road, New Road New Road, New Road

Lunchtime scores

Canterbury : Kent v Somerset no play yet today

Trent Bridge : Nottinghamshire v Essex 62-2

Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Worcestershire 123-1

Lord’s : Middlesex v Glamorgan 118-1

Hove : Sussex v Northamptonshire no play yet today

Headingley : Yorkshire v Leicestershire no play yet today

And a further inspection after lunch at Hove; while Dillon Pennington has taken his first wicket for Nottinghamshire , Khushi for 18, Essex 48-1. The first time I saw him bowl, about five years ago, his trousers were flapping above his ankles, I wonder if he plumps for longer ones these days.

Play abandoned for the day at Durham

That’s three called off for the day, three live and three in the waiting room.

First fifty of the season...

…goes to new Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast! Ten fours, 51 balls.

Play abandoned for the day at Old Trafford

And so it begins.

“Good Afternoon Tanya, good afternoon all!”

Em Jackson! Lovely to hear from you. ”I’m sitting here on Tyneside awaiting the commentary from Wearside & seeing grey clouds being blown northwards outside my window. Hopefully that’s good for the prospects of play in Chester-le-Street, if not for putting any laundry out once the spin cycle finishes. ”However, if I may digress to Division 2 & my other home County, Gloucestershire . I think they’ll be soon changing their moniker from “Glorious” to “Groundhog Day” given the rain affecting their season start again (although this time in Derbys.). If the drainage at the County Ground, Bristol, is the reason why relocation is vital to prevent income loss, then sooner rather than later please?! Even if that means my dream will die to own one of those gorgeous Ashley Down Rd. end apartments.”

Still just the two wickets to fall this morning – ul Hassan to Bamber (Glam whizzing along to 92-1) and Libby to Booth Worcs 98-1. Khushi and Elgar looking in top form at Trent Bridge (32-0) .

👏 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼! Match Updates ➡️ https://t.co/s5y0Qa4I3S Essex 24-0 (4 overs) 🦅 #FlyLikeAnEagle pic.twitter.com/YqKLS18Rd5 — Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) April 5, 2024

Oooooh, that’s quite a tantalising Essex line up: Elgar, Khushi, Westley, Cox, Critchley, Walter. Currently 14-0 off three and a bit overs.

Michael Booth has his first first-class wicket! Runaway Worcs lose a wicket, as Jake Libby top edges and is caught inside the rope. Worcestershire 77-1.

More sheeting being pulled on at Old Trafford to cover the run-ups. Now being pegged down. When I came in this morning, Lancashire were in the nets and I was instantly taken back to when I first started doing this job and if there was one person in the nets you could guarantee it would be Haseeb Hameed. Really happy to see he is Notts captain this year, where his first decision has been to decide to bowl after winning the toss at Trent Bridge. Play due there imminently.

Your first wicket of the season: Ethan Bamber on the money for Middlesex , where Billy Root has already hit four fours in his 28 not out.

Ethan Bamber has the first wicket of the 2024 season An over of probing line and length eventually does for Zain-ul-Hassan pic.twitter.com/210quRvfhe — Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 5, 2024

Down at Hove, where there will be no play before lunch, Matt Prior gave new signing John Simpson his county cap this morning.

1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣ - John Simpson Ahead of today's season-opener, County Championship captain @JohnSimpson_88 has been presented with his County Cap by @MattPrior13 ! 🧢 Congratulations, Simmo! 👏 #GOSBTS — Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 5, 2024

And another email lands with a thud. “Good Morning Tanya, this is Sarthak Chugh all the way over from Mumbai, India. I have been (a little too eagerly) waiting for the start of the County Championship however just like the skies over in your country, my mood has been dampened with the continuous “Match has been delayed” messages filling up my phone. Not to brag, and it is not a pleasant feeling at all, but the weather right now in Mumbai is teetering on the 40 degree scale. Seems like we are on vastly contrasting unplayable levels here. ”Having moaned about this, the first bowl is about to be bowled at Lord’s and my mood has improved significantly. I hope I haven’t jinxed it. Regardless, a very Happy New Championship Day to you and the team.”

Well thank you Sarthak! And please do feel free to join in with the chat below the line, new commentators always welcome. At Old Trafford the covers are resolutely on, the flag is dancing a merry dance above the Hilton Hotel and a scattering of loyal fans are sitting in the stands.

” Morning,” Hello Tom v c Gucht.! “I got the train to Leeds this morning before heading over down the Aire Valley to plant some trees on rewilded farmland in memory of my dad. My meteorological and geological insights suggest it’s muggy, overcast, blustery with a very high water-table and generally saturated underfoot turf. Obviously l, the groundstaff probably have better drainage facilities than moorland on Kildwick, but you get the picture.” I hope the tree planting goes well, what a lovely idea.

I see Billy Root is opening for Glamorgan . No wickets lost yet at Lord’s :Glamorgan 16-0 against Bamber and Higgins.

Chris Rushworth beating the bat at Edgbaston, while Ollie Hannon-Dalby struggling a bit with his run-up in the gusts of wind. Worcs a heady 24-0 off three and a half overs.

Some news from Derby, where play was called off at 10am. In the words of the reporters network reporter, “the ground is so wet after weeks of rain that the prospects of the Division Two fixture starting on time on day two already look slim.”

Play at two grounds: Lord's and Edgbaston

Where Middlesex have won the toss and chosen to bowl, as have Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Freddie Lynch writes in “Welcome to the new season! Toss news from Edgbaston particularly interesting - Sam Hain missing out due to personal reasons makes Warwickshire’s XI look quite a lot weaker. With no Woakes around either, could be a tricky start to the season for the Bears...” Jason Holder makes his Worcestershire debut.

Livestream links

Thanks for the nudge Richard McKeary. All the games will be covered by BBC local radio and links to the livestreams either through the ECB or county websites.

A couple of emails have dropped. Good morning, Guy Hornsby:

“Sadly the sun in south Manchester is hiding now but I hope the drizzle stops for us all soon. I’m taking my 6 year-old daughter to her first County Championship game today, even if it’s looking dicey for seeing any cricket. We’ve got a packed lunch and cricket bat and ball, what more do you need!”

A nice covered walkway just past the media centre is good for some cricket if the skies open – hope she enjoys it!

And hello Phil Withall! “Welcome back! A new season, a new hope, a new underwhelming weather situation. I hope there is enough off field content to keep you occupied.... If it’s any consolation it’s raining in Queensland too...” I’m about to go and investigate the brownies….

Rain delays also at Canterbury and Trent Bridge

No play before lunch at Canterbury, tbc at Trent Bridge

📸 This is what we're dealing with at @Spitfire_Ground this morning after heavy overnight rain & inclement weather over the past few days The Ground Staff are on the case 💪 https://t.co/Tfnw6o5GIC pic.twitter.com/14VemlNMnl — Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) April 5, 2024

which leaves us, I think, with play at Durham , Edgbaston, Lord’s and Headingley.

Inspection at 10.30 at Headingley. Feeling particularly sorry for Gloucestershire , whose last season was rain-ruined, and who have already been rained off at Derby for the day and whose chances of hosting their first home game against Yorkshire next week are already looking precarious.

The Cricketer/Times’ Paul Edwards has given me a new season present, a copy of Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill, which he rates as a must-go-to play at Stratford, if you live anywhere near. But it only runs until tomorrow so you haven’t got long. In return I’ve given him a hot-cross bun from local deli Barbakan.

No play before lunch at Hove and off for the day at Derby

Wet, wet, wet….

No play before lunch at Old Trafford

Have arrived at Old Trafford to find the covers on and no play before lunch.

Fixtures - Division Two

Derby : Derbyshire v Gloucestershire

Lord’s : Middlesex v Glamorgan

Hove : Sussex v Northamptonshire

Headingley : Yorkshire v Leicestershire

Fixtures - Division One

Chester le Street : Durham v Hampshire

Canterbury : Kent v Somerset

Old Trafford : Lancashire v Surrey

Trent Bridge : Nottinghamshire v Essex

Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Worcestershire

Good morning! Welcome back long-time friends and a warm hello to anyone new poking their head around the door, who has a fancy for following the County Championship through this season.

Today, anything seems possible. Gloucestershire could be promoted; Kent could steal the pennant from under the well-funded noses of south London. For now, a glass raised to new starts, old dogs, stars born and friends made. I’ll be at Old Trafford shortly – the skies are … frowning.

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