Heavy flooding drench parts of Britain: Up to three inches of rain falls in just hours on soggy Thursday leaving parts of Devon and Cornwall underwater
Published: 00:03, 8 December 2023 | Updated: 01:37, 8 December 2023
Heavy flooding drenched parts of Britain today after three inches of rain fell within hours.
Some areas saw schools opening or closing late with a horse racing event being called off at Wincanton because of the miserable conditions.
Parts of Devon and Cornwall were left underwater with a number of roads being forced closed following the onslaught of showers, with fields across the counties left saturated.
Devon County Council Highways said that Tavistock, Lee Mill and the River Axe had all been affected with staff at the Axminister Inn claiming people were finding it hard to get in and out of the market town.
Cars were pictured forcing their way through deep flood waters in Dorset and in Somerset a horse rider was seen forcing to disembark and walk her animal through knee-deep rainwater.
A yellow weather warning from the Met Office[2] remained in place for parts of Eastern Scotland overnight, warning that more travel disruption could be expected.
The miserable weather is expected to continue on Friday with unsettled showers, long spells of rain and windy blusters hitting most of the country. Coastal gales are expected in some parts of Wales and the southwest.
Four inches of rain are expected to fall by the end of the weekend showing that the wet weather is showing no signs of easing.
DEVON: In Axminister the River Axe burst its banks after heavy overnight rain causing surrounding fields to become saturated
DORSET: Deep floodwater blocked part of the road near Honeycombe Farm on the B3163 following Thursday’s heavy showers
SOMERSEET: A horse rider is seen forcing to disembark and walk her animal through knee-deep rainwater
Homes and businesses have been worst affected by the floodwater, which was caused by heavy showers and melting frost.
On Thursday night, 61 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency remained in place, while a further 197 flood alerts were issued.
The forecasters metrologist Alex Deakin said Britons will have a ‘wet and windy weekend’ with a number of low pressure systems blowing over from the Atlantic.
He said: ‘A chilly but mostly dry start to Scotland but elsewhere will see a fairly soggy Saturday morning.
‘But quite quickly Wales and the Midlands will brighten up followed by south east Anglia looking a lot brighter by Saturday afternoon.’
Met office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong added: ‘Low pressure will drive several days of unsettled conditions, with heavy rainfall the main concern.
‘We have issued a number of severe weather warnings for rain across the UK. As much as 31in of rain could fall in some areas of the West, particularly on higher ground’.
‘The rain will be falling on already very wet ground.
And where there is still lying snow in the north west of England and Scotland, snow melt will exacerbate the risk of flooding,’ he told the Express.
Weatherman Simon Patridge told the Sun: ‘By the end of the weekend we could see up to 4in fall. It’s a really unsettled pictures at the moment. Rainfall totals are going to be mounting.’
Low cloud will clear to leave a brighter start for many on Friday with heavy showers slowly moving into parts of the north and west
Temperatures will remain milder on Friday but showers and blustery winds will continue
DEVON: Axminster was just one region severely affected by flooding on Thursday
CUMRBIA: Earlier this week parts of the county faced snow, with the melting ice increasing the risk of flooding
FLOOD ALERTS: On Thursday night, 61 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency remained in place, while a further 197 flood alerts were issued
Yesterday Scotland was put on avalanche alert after a heavy snow forecast was issued, with the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) issuing a ‘considerable’ alert.
It warned that the chance of ‘snowslips’ in the Northern Cairngorms had increased from low to moderate, adding ‘avalanches likely’.
Meanwhile in South Cumbria a district nurse was forced to use a tractor to get around to her patients.
Ashleigh Mayvers, 33, told the paper: ‘Even with the tractor, it was difficult at times to keep it under control in the snow.’
Flood alerts were put in place across the country on Thursday with warnings that hte heavy showers could cut off some communities, create poor driving conditions and close roads.
The Met has warned that journey times are likely to be made longer due to spray and flooding on roads, while bus and train services will probably be affected.
It is also likely that some homes and business will experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain falls in some parts of the west of the UK.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: ‘After a relatively calm day on Wednesday, wet and windy weather will move in from the west on Wednesday night.
NORFOLK: The Met Office warned driving conditions may be problematic as roads flood. Drivers today were seen making their way through surface water on A1101 in Welney, Norfolk (pictured)
NORFOLK: Cars make their way through surface water on the A1101 in Welney, Norfolk today. The Met Office has forecast heavy rain and strong winds for much of the country thanks to a low pressure system sweeping the UK
NORFOLK: Cars make their way through surface water on the A1101 in Welney in Norfolk, where the River Delph and New Bedford River have flooded today
‘Low pressure will drive several days of unsettled conditions with heavy rainfall the main concern.
We have issued a number of severe weather warnings for rain across the UK, as much as 80mm of rain could fall in some areas of the west, particularly higher ground.
‘Higher ground in eastern Scotland could even see up to 100mm of rain.
Our warnings are likely to be updated so keep up to date with the Met Office forecast.
‘The rain will be falling on already very wet ground and where there is still lying snow in the north-west of England and parts of Scotland, snow melt will exacerbate the risk of flooding.
‘It is important to check for flood warnings in your area issued by your local environment agency.’
Twenty-three flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – were active in England as of 6am.
In Wales, there is one flood alert for South Pembrokeshire.
In Scotland, there are flood alerts for Fife, Tayside, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, and Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.
Environment Agency flood duty manager Kate Marks warned Britons to keep clear of floodways as heavy rain sets in.
‘Significant river and surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of the South West of England on Thursday and Friday, with minor impacts also probable elsewhere in the country,’ she said.
‘We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.’
NORFOLK: The River Delph and New Bedford River have flooded the surrounding area in Norfolk today
LONDON: Commuters brave the freezing fog in Richmond south-west London on Wednesday morning
DERBYSHIRE: Temperatures hit -6C in rural Derbyshire on Wednesday, leaving the air cold and streets frosty
RAC Breakdown spokesman Simon Williams also urged drivers to be wary of flooded roads, saying that those in the ‘worst-affected areas will need to be on their guard for floods and standing water’.
He added: ‘Anyone tempted to drive through water that is too deep for their vehicle is risking their safety and a very expensive repair bill near to Christmas or, worse still, the prospect of an insurance write-off.
‘The best advice is to turn around and go another way if there’s any doubt about the water’s depth.
‘From a road safety perspective, we urge drivers to slow down and leave plenty of stopping distance behind the vehicle in front.
‘It’s also important to remember the risk of losing control due to aquaplaning, which is what happens when a layer of water gets between the tyres and the road surface, making it impossible to steer, brake or accelerate.’
References
- ^ Eirian Jane Prosser (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)