Sunday, January 5, 2014

Warnings bring coastal flood fears

UK storms: Warnings bring fresh coastal flood fears

A surfer in rough waves at Porthcawl on Sunday Forecasters warned people on the Welsh coast to expect "exceptional waves" on Monday

Roads remain closed and some train services have been disrupted as the UK reels from a spell of powerful storms.

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place in parts of the UK, with the Environment Agency warning many areas could be at risk into next week.

Up to 20mm (1in) of rain is expected in Northern Ireland, while downpours are forecast in southern Wales and England.

A 47-year-old man has died after his mobility scooter fell into the River Thames in Oxford.

Police said his death, which happened on Saturday evening, was a "tragic incident" that highlighted the dangers of using flooded pathways.

Forecasters, meanwhile, have warned that strong winds and large waves on Monday risk causing more coastal flooding.

Saturated ground

BBC forecaster Laura Gilchrist said the frequency of the recent storms to batter parts of the UK was highly unusual, while the BBC's Darren Bett warned more wind and rain would spread from the west on Sunday.

In other developments:

Major roads in areas including Ayrshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Pembrokeshire, the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire are closed because of flooding.

Some train routes in England, Wales and Scotland are disrupted by flooding and poor weather conditions, National Rail said.

BBC Weather's Darren Betts looks at the weather for the week ahead

The Environment Agency said parts of England's north-east coast could see flooding while parts of the south coast - including Portsmouth and Newhaven - were also at risk.

There is an increased flooding risk to Weybridge and Guildford on Sunday and into Monday and people living along the non-tidal Thames, including Oxford and Osney, could be at risk from Sunday, the agency said.

The Thames Barrier closed at 14:00 GMT because of "ongoing high flows and spring tides", and will reopen at about 18:00.

Firefighters used an amphibious vehicle to rescue two men when their lorry broke down in flood water in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Firefighters used an amphibious vehicle to rescue two men when their lorry broke down in flood water in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Drivers on the main road connecting Warrenpoint town to the city of Newry experienced the full impact of the weather Drivers on the main road connecting Warrenpoint to the city of Newry experienced the full impact of the weather
Stuart McGregor said the river at Crawford Bridge in Spetisbury, Dorset, was not as high as Christmas eve but was "still rising" Stuart McGregor said the river at Crawford Bridge in Spetisbury, Dorset, was not as high as Christmas eve but was "still rising"
Flood damaged furniture is piled outside homes in the village of Yalding in Kent, southern England More than 200 homes have been flooded across the UK
A man rides his bicycle through flood water in the village of Queen Street in Kent, southern England Forecasters said the frequency of the recent storms to hit parts of the UK was highly unusual

Environment Agency spokesman Jonathan Day added: "The risk of flooding to the coast will continue over the next few days, especially on the south and west coast and along the Severn estuary."

Teenager missing

There are currently no severe flood warnings - indicating danger to life - in place across the UK.

However, about 200 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible, be prepared - are in place in England and Wales, in addition to about 70 flood warnings.

Hundreds of homes have been flooded, from Cornwall to Scotland, after storms battered the UK's coastline.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he expected "record levels" of spending on flood defences over the next seven years, including "£2.3bn in this four-year period".

But shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle said the government had cut funding by £100m in real terms.

"It's all very well the prime minister today talking about investment in the future but 130,000 people have been affected now and they want to know why there's been this big cut in support," she told Sky News.

It comes after the government confirmed 1,500 jobs would go at the Environment Agency, with some reports suggesting this included 550 from its floods team.

David Cameron: "There are always lessons to learn"

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said the agency needs to make efficiency savings but he had received assurances about front-line services.

He said he would be chairing a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Sunday afternoon "to ensure everything is being done on the ground to prepare for bad weather ahead".

Forecasters are warning of more coastal flooding on Monday.

Travel news: Choose an area

"A large, deep depression in the Atlantic is whipping waves up out at sea on Sunday and these will come into western and southern coastal areas of the UK as a large swell on Monday," the Met Office said.

"This, combined with waves driven by the winds in UK waters on Monday, will generate wave heights of 7-10m over parts of western Scotland, Wales and south-west England, and 3-7m in much of the English Channel and Irish Sea."

The Met Office said the public should be aware of the dangers of waves crashing onshore and over topping shore lines and sea fronts.

Have you been affected by the floods? Please get in touch using the form below. When sending us pictures at no time should you endanger yourself or others.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions


No comments:

Post a Comment