A woman who died after being swept out to sea while walking her dog on a coastal path during Storm Boelo has been named locally as Sal Galloway.
Ms Galloway, 59, had been walking on the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight when she was engulfed by powerful waves during the storm.
A major emergency service operation involving police, paramedics and coastguard rescue teams with a lifeboat and a helicopter was launched just after 11am yesterday.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 375 was scrambled from its base at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, and carried out an aerial search of the waters off Sandown and Lake, while Bembridge RNLI's All Weather Lifeboat also joined the operation from just up the island's eastern coast.
The body of the mother-of-two was found shortly after midday to the south of Sandown Pier.
Her next of kin have been updated and a file will now be prepared for the coroner. The welfare of her dog is currently unknown.
The woman who died after she was swept out to sea on the Isle of Wight has been named locally as Sal Galloway
Ms Galloway's body was found shortly after midday to the south of Sandown Pier
A major emergency operation was launched at the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin
Friends and relatives have today left heartfelt tributes on social media for Ms Galloway, who is understood to have had a passion for scooters and soul music.
One said: 'Rest in peace my dear friend Sal Galloway, didn't see you much but you were a lovely lady. Always had time for everyone. Condolences to your family and friends. And bloody hell did you have a lot of them.'
Another good friend said: 'Very sad news to hear that a very close friend has passed away, Sal Galloway RIP. My childhood best friend. Will miss you.'
Meanwhile one of her cousins said: 'RIP to my beautiful cousin Sal Galloway. I can't believe I'm writing this. Fly high my darling xxx.'
Police sealed off the coastal walkway, known as the revetment, between Sandown and Shanklin, putting up a cordon at the end of Sandown Esplanade to prevent the public from entering the area.
A meeting point was established outside the Napoleon's Landing apartment building on the seafront for rescue teams.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
The UK faced a battering from storms across the weekend – with Boelo following on from Storm Austen – but conditions continued to be dangerous yesterday and overnight.
The Environment Agency had issued a flood alert for the Isle of Wight coastline over the weekend, warning that strong winds and large waves could cause seawater to wash over coastal defences.
Although police are investigating exactly what happened, it is believed the woman was swept out to sea after being hit by a huge wave
A major emergency operation, involving police, paramedics, Coastguard Rescue Teams, a lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter was launched
Sandown and Shanklin were among the locations identified as being at risk, alongside Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard and Ryde.
A further flood alert issued on Sunday warned of possible coastal flooding around high tide, with water levels on Monday morning expected to be higher than those forecast for the previous day.
Following the woman's death, the Isle of Wight Council issued an urgent coastal safety warning, warning residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution around beaches, sea walls and exposed coastal paths.
Members of the public have been advised to stay well back from sea walls, slipways and cliff edges, while dog walkers have been specifically warned to keep their pets on leads.
The council has also urged people never to turn their backs on the sea or approach rough water to take photographs.
It warned that anyone close enough to feel sea spray could already be standing dangerously near the water.
Residents and tourists have been reminded to check weather forecasts and tide times before heading to the coast, particularly in the aftermath of storms when large waves can continue to pose a threat.
Hampshire Police said in a statement: 'At 11.17am yesterday, our Isle of Wight Ambulance Service partners informed us of a concern for welfare of a woman in the water at Lake.
'We attended the scene to assist our IOWAS and HM Coastguard partners.
'The woman, aged in her 50s, was brought out of the water. Sadly, despite the very best efforts of all emergency services in attendance, she was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her next of kin have been updated and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.'
Forecasters have also reported today that they are tracking a third system, Storm Chloe, as it heads towards the UK.
Scientists warn these deadly storms could just be the start of a winter of chaos supercharged by El Niño.
Experts say the powerful weather phenomenon threatens to unleash fierce winds, torrential rain and even snow across the UK over the next few months.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: 'It's a very similar situation to Boelo on Monday and Tuesday.
'In other words, the strongest winds expected to affect northern parts of the UK are expected to arrive on Tuesday.
'Risks of 70mph wind gusts, yellow warning in force, but of course we'll be watching this one very closely.'
Do you know what happened? Email lettice.bromovsky@dailymail.co.uk