Heavy rain warning as maps show danger area stretching from Cornwall to Kent with two-inch downpours due today with areas still flooded after Storm Henk chaos

By Mark Duell[1] and Elizabeth Haigh[2]

Published: 06:44, 4 January 2024 | Updated: 11:18, 4 January 2024

Britons were warned to expect further flooding misery today after the Met Office[3] expanded a heavy rain warning following major disruption from Storm Henk.

The alert was initially issued over southern England from Cornwall to Suffolk but then extended northwards to cover Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. It runs from noon today until 3am tomorrow and warns of further power cuts and villages becoming cut off.

Meteorologists also warned of further flooding to homes and businesses, road closures, difficult driving conditions and cancellations to train and bus services.

The London Fire Brigade also warned that parts of London 'may experience flash floods' as a result of the rain, 'so make sure you know what to do in an emergency'.

Also today, Kew Gardens revealed six trees were destroyed during the storm and would now be 'mulched and added back' to the attraction in South West London.

Officials said they were 'sad to announce' that the trees were 'lost', but added that work by their 'tree gang' to maintain 14,000 trees avoided a higher total. It comes as:

• The Met Office revealed up to 50mm (2in) if rain could fall in the worst-hit areas;
• Nearly 600 flood alerts or warnings were imposed across England and Wales;
• Great Western Railway warned of further delays if high levels of rain return; and
• The UK Health Security Agency issued a cold weather alert from this Saturday.

The Environment Agency had 293 flood alerts and 270 warnings in place across England this morning - while Natural Resources Wales imposed 20 alerts, four warnings and one severe warning for the River Ritec in Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

The Met Office rain warning from 12pm today was initially issued over southern England from Cornwall to Suffolk but then extended northwards to cover Cambridgeshire and Norfolk

One of the six trees at Kew Gardens in West London which was destroyed by Storm Henk

Another of the trees destroyed by Storm Henk at Kew Gardens in West London this week

Kew Gardens revealed six trees were destroyed during the storm which hit England this week

Flooding continued to affect rail services today, with taxis replacing Great Western Railway trains between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall after all lines were blocked.

All GWR lines were also shut between Bristol Parkway and Swindon due to flooding, with services between London[4] Paddington and South Wales forced to divert.

Diversions could add 40 minutes to passengers' journeys, the train operator said - adding that passengers could expect further disruption if high levels of rain return.

The Met Office said heavy rain is expected to move northeast across southern and eastern parts of England throughout this afternoon before clearing overnight.

While the track of the heaviest rainfall 'remains very uncertain', up to 30mm (1.2in) could fall in six to nine hours, with some few places possibly seeing 50mm (2in).

Chaos is likely to be worsened due the ground across the region currently being very wet, before the weather turns drier, colder and more settled into the weekend.

Up to 30mm (1.2in) of rain could fall in six to nine hours, with up to 50mm (2in) also possible

The Environment Agency has 293 flood alerts (in amber) and 270 warnings (in red) for England

Natural Resources Wales imposed 20 alerts, four warnings and one severe warning in Tenby

Overnight frosts will return as temperatures fall to -5C (23F) in northern England and -2C (28F) in southern areas by Sunday.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert covering all of England from this Saturday until next Tuesday.

Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'The track of the heaviest rain remains uncertain but there is chance of 20 to 30mm of rain falling in a six to nine hour period for a portion of the warning area, with a few places seeing as much as 40 to 50mm.

'Much of this rain is falling on already wet ground and therefore, impacts are more likely. Meanwhile, a stalled weather front will continue to bring rain and showers across the northeast.'

It comes after Storm Henk brought flooding and disruption to Britain as 94mph winds battered the Isle of Wight and homes were evacuated.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said a motorist in his 50s from the Bath area was killed by a falling tree, while driving near Kemble, between Tetbury and Cirencester, on Tuesday.

In Northamptonshire, several residents were evacuated from houseboats and caravans at Billing Aquadrome close to the River Nene due to flooding.

Robert Britchford moved to the site in 2016 and estimated that about 2,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

He said: 'It's the second time in three years that it has flooded. I moved my cars out of the way, and I thought I would try and wait it out, because I thought it would be nice today, but no, the evacuation notice went out and that was it.

'I'm a bit anxious.

We felt it was coming, but we hoped it wouldn't. Now we have to find hotels. They won't let us back on until this is all sorted, so it could be a month before we come back on.'

Another holiday park in South Wales was flooded, with reports of raw sewage in the water.

Very high water levels of the River Avon through Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire this morning

Flooding around the village of Bathford, three miles east of Bath, pictured this morning

Natural Resources Wales urged people at Kiln Park caravan site near Tenby to avoid contact with the water and said the River Ritec is likely to remain high for several days.

Meanwhile, dozens of homes in Bottleacre Lane in Loughborough, Leicestershire, were either breached or surrounded by floodwater, with some residents trapped in their homes.

The ground floor of Ivan Fletcher's property, where he has lived for 16 years, was covered by about a foot of water, with his possessions moved upstairs.

The father of nine, seven of whom live at home, moved six of his children to a relative's home in Leicester, and one stayed in the property.

He said: 'I woke up this morning to this.

There was water everywhere, and it has got worse. There are bins everywhere, rubbish, the kids were panicking, stress.

'I moved my wife and the kids to Leicester with her sister out of the way, and I'll stay here with the cats, and my eldest daughter. It happened about 12 years ago but it was never this bad.

We had no warning at all.'

National Highways said several major roads in England were closed due to flooding and rail companies also reported disruption.

A falling tree injured a woman in Orpington, South East London, and others damaged properties and blocked roads across the country.

Raw sewage has spilled from a flooded treatment works in Surrey when the River Mole to burst its banks.

Pollution spread over a public footpath beyond the fence of the unmanned Thames Water facility.

Flooding on the tracks near Chipping Sodbury between Bristol Parkway and Swindon today

Great Western Railway trains are disrupted today by flooding between Swindon and Bristol

Heavy rain across southern England has led to the majority of Thames Water's storm overflows discharging sewage into rivers and ground water.

It is likely that other water companies are also discharging more than usual, but only Thames Water has published a live interactive map of its monitors on rivers.

Simon Collins, of River Mole River Watch, said the Horley treatment works near Gatwick Airport has flooded four times since Storm Ciaran hit the UK in late October.

After the flood on Tuesday he tested the water pouring through the fence and found phosphate, a pollutant found in sewage, to be 'off the scale'.

Thames Water has apologised for the pollution and said it has installed a temporary pump to clear the water while it upgrades the treatment plant in the long term.

The storm brought gusts of 94mph at Needles on the Isle of Wight while Exeter Airport saw winds of 81mph, and a family was left 'exposed to the elements' more than 400ft in the air when strong winds 'ripped the hatch' off their London Eye pod.

David Nock, 43, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said that the Eye began 'flexing' on the way up and that it kept stop-starting as it struggled with the wind on Tuesday.

The observation wheel came to a total halt and 'wasn't going anywhere' at the top, he said, leaving him and his family of 11 stranded for five minutes.

Major flooding in the Worcestershire village of Severn Stoke which was cut off yesterday

Holiday homes at the Billing Aquadrome in Northampton surrounded by floodwater yesterday

Homes in Loughborough are flooded after the Grand Union Canal burst its banks yesterday

Holy Trinity Church surrounded by flooding in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire yesterday

Thames Water discharged sewage into the River Thames at Datchet in Berkshire yesterday

A spokesman for the London Eye said that after an 'isolated technical issue', they 'immediately ensured that guests safely disembarked'.

Several rail routes remained disrupted due to flooding, but some have reopened.

Yesterday, Greater Anglia said at 7am that it was still experiencing 'severe disruption', with 'do not travel' warnings in place on routes in Norwich, Colchester, Peterborough and Cambridge.

All lines reopened by 9am.

Great Northern Rail services resumed between Cambridge and both Ely and King's Lynn after work to repair damaged overhead wires and remove a fallen tree.

National Highways said the A21 in East Sussex was closed between the A2100 near Johns Cross and the A28 near Baldslow because a fallen tree was resting on power cables above the road.

Flooding closed the A52 in Nottinghamshire westbound from the A46 at Saxondale to the A6011 at Gamston.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had received 140 flood-related calls in 24 hours while Leicestershire Police said a large number of homes were affected by flooding in Loughborough.

The Environment Agency urged people to avoid walking near coastal paths where large waves could drag them into the sea.

References

1. ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Elizabeth Haigh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)