Sunday, January 26, 2014

More rain to hit flooded areas

Further UK flood warnings as heavy rainfall forecast

Lightning bolts also struck houses in Wollescote, Stirchley and Northfield. Lightning struck several buildings in the Midlands earlier

Forecasters are warning of more heavy rain across parts of the UK, bringing further risk of flooding to some areas left struggling by recent storms.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain in south-west England on Sunday between 06:00 GMT and 14:00.

Rain and strong winds are also forecast for parts of the South East, Northern Ireland, Wales and much of Scotland.

On Saturday, storms battered the Midlands region, with buildings struck by lightning and trees uprooted.

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The Environment Agency has 10 flood warnings in place for the south east and south west of England, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

More than 100 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - have also been issued, more than half of them in the South East.

In particular, the Met Office said Sunday's amber warning meant areas of the Somerset Levels that are currently under water should "be prepared for further flooding".

It said between 10 and 20mm of rain was expected to fall on saturated ground on Sunday.

It has yellow warnings - the lowest of its three alert levels - in place for wind, snow and ice for most of Scotland.

Two horses being led along a racecourse in torrential rain Heavy rain fell in many parts of the UK, including Doncaster Racecourse
Heavy rain falling on a floodlit football stadium Hail and rain fell before the FA Cup game between Stevenage and Everton
A tractor pulling a trailer through flood water Parts of Somerset have been badly affected by floods for several weeks

Ice and snow warnings are also in place for northern England, while people in Northern Ireland are warned to expect rain and high winds.

The higher-level amber warning for is for rain South West England, and yellow rain warnings are in place for London and the South East and south Wales.

On Friday, Somerset County Council declared the situation there a "major incident" and asked the armed forces to consider helping villagers who had been cut off.

The council warned that precautions to stop damage to property and risk to life "need to be taken now".

'Need more pumps'

The "biggest pumping operation ever" is continuing there, but much of the water has been going into already swollen rivers.

James Winslade, who runs Yeo Farm near Taunton, said he had found his land under water for a second year running.

"We've been banging on to the [Environment] Agency to clean the rivers out," he said.

"First and foremost we need more pumps. I was shouting out for them a week before Christmas, but the agency said no."

In other developments:

  • Thunderstorms moved across the Midlands, where lightning struck buildings, and into East Anglia and London causing travel disruption when a tree brought down overhead power lines
  • Winds of more than 50mph were reported with unconfirmed reports of tornadoes hitting in Cambridge, Nuneaton and Retford, BBC Weather said
  • In Warwickshire, highways departments are reported to be clearing trees from some routes
  • South West Trains services were suspended on parts of the network after several trees fell on lines

Some of the Met Office weather warnings continue into Monday.


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