Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Flood warnings after coastal damage

UK storms: More flood warnings after damaging tides and rain

Arwyn Jones reports from the promenade in Aberystwyth, which has been battered by high tides

Large swathes of the UK are still being warned of the risk of floods, as the Met Office forecasts heavy rainfall for south and south-east England.

There are currently more than 100 flood warnings in England, Scotland and Wales, where flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

The warnings include areas along the River Thames, such as Oxford, which has seen flooding.

A night of rain and exceptionally high tides overwhelmed defences in Dorset.

Chiswell's flood sirens sounded for the first time since they were installed 30 years ago, with one English Channel coastguard saying 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.

'People are worried'

With several flood warnings in place along the River Thames, the rising water levels in Oxford led to Abingdon Road being closed.

BBC Weather's Susan Powell: ''We are up against strong winds and heavy rain''

Some residents described it as "a river", while Claire Hogan from the Duke of Monmouth pub said water had begun to "lap the doorsteps" of nearby homes.

Local vicar Jane Sherwood from St Luke's Church on nearby Canning Crescent said "people are very worried, there's water in every direction you turn".

Flooding has also started to affect parts of Surrey, including Guildford, Horley, Staines, Sunbury, Thames Ditton and Weybridge.

The Environment Agency said properties in several parts of Berkshire had been flooded, including Purley on Thames, Shiplake, Old Windsor, Wraysbury, Bourne End, Datchet and along the lower Rover Lodden.

The Thames Barrier in London has been closed for the 11th successive tide and is due to reopen at 18:45 GMT. The Environment Agency said it has closed operationally only 135 times since being built in the 1980s.

The Environment Agency has issued 109 flood warnings for England and Wales, with the South East and South West the areas most likely to be flooded.

In Scotland, 14 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, though none is rated severe.

The Environment Agency said communities in parts of the south of England are urged to prepare for more flooding for the rest of the week.

There is a risk of flooding from groundwater in Dorset and south Wiltshire, it said, and river flooding is expected along the River Stour, the Hampshire Avon and the Thames, including Oxford and the lower reaches of the Thames.

It also said the problem is ongoing in the Somerset Levels and damage to property is possible in the next 24 hours.

The agency's flood risk manager, Paul Mustow, said: "The risk... continues this week, with communities in the South West and South East urged to stay safe and sign up to free flood warnings."

Weather warnings were issued for much of the UK on Monday, but these have all been lifted with the exception of the rain warning for southern and south-eastern England.

This is a yellow warning - the lowest of the Met Office's three levels - for "heavy showers, some of them combined with hail and thunder".

The warning, due to run until 06:00 GMT on Wednesday, says the public should be "aware of the risk of further localised flooding, especially in areas which have been affected in recent days".

Waves battered parts of the south coast and Wales on Monday evening.

A clean-up operation is under way in Aberystwyth after waves battered the coastal town on Monday night.

As well as the parts of Dorset that were subject to severe flood warnings, there were also some villages in Somerset cut off and some properties flooded in Cornwall and Salisbury in Wiltshire.

Powerful waves also reduced the Pom Pom rock stack in Portland, Dorset, and a rock arch in Porthcothan Bay, Cornwall, to rubble.

A partially collapsed building on a sea front The seafront at Aberystwyth was damaged by waves on Monday
Storm damage is seen on the promenade at Aberystwyth A clean-up operation has started in Aberystwyth
Rising flood water at Wytham Street There has been flooding in Oxford in areas close to the Rives Thames
A car stopped in water which reaches up to its headlights Roads in many areas, including some in Somerset, have flooded
Schoolboy in a canoe in Thames Ditton There has also been flooding in Thames Ditton, Surrey

There has been travel disruption, with many roads closed due to flooding.

Travel news: Choose an area

More rain later could cause further problems.

There has been some rail disruption caused by the bad weather, although the Rail Delivery Group, which speaks on behalf of the rail industry, said on Monday that 96% of scheduled services were operating despite localised flooding and weather damage.

The recent flooding has prompted the UK government to co-ordinate with international partners to gather information on the damage caused from their satellites.

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