Storm Henk chaos deepens: Now
Published: 14:29, 5 January 2024 | Updated: 16:47, 5 January 2024
Britain’s weather chaos will deepen this weekend as a cold weather alert is activated with temperatures set to fall to -6C (21F) amid a major ice risk on saturated ground.
Following 40 days of continuous rain that has brought flooding misery to towns and villages across the UK, showers continued affecting some areas throughout today.
But while more settled conditions are on the way this weekend, it will be significantly colder as the mercury drops to -4C (25F) in rural south west England tomorrow night and -6C (21F) in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire on Sunday night.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert covering the whole of England valid from 9am tomorrow until 12pm next Tuesday, with temperatures likely to be below average especially overnight as ice forms on the very wet surfaces.
The alert means there is an increased health risk for people aged over 65, those with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups, such as the homeless[2].
A major flood risk also continues, with 302 warnings and 332 alerts in England plus 13 alerts and two warnings from Natural Resources Wales – giving a UK total of 649.
Severe flooding has led to hundreds of people being evacuated, cows drowning, rail lines being blocked and roads turning to rivers amid torrential rain. It comes as:
- 1,000 properties have been flooded this week, including hundreds overnight;
- Peaks along the River Trent could near the highest levels on record from 2000;
- A party boat which acts as a floating bar and nightclub sank in the River Thames;
- Sandown’s GBP100,000 racing meeting tomorrow is off due to waterlogged track.
Police were called to the village of Sawley in Derbyshire after drivers on the nearby M1 saw cows stranded in floodwater – with four of the animals later confirmed dead.
A woman pushes child through a flooded street at Longford near Gloucester this morning
Paul Cuff at his flooded home in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, today
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
A man carries a child through floodwater next to the River Thames in Henley this morning
Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater this morning
Sue and Hans Oosthuizen, residents trapped by floodwater at Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire today after the River Trent burst its banks following Storm Henk
Vehicles are driven through a flooded road at Aldingbourne in West Sussex this morning
The flooded kitchen at Matthew Bloodworth’s home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, today
While officers and firefighters rescued four other cows, more animals are thought to be missing – and the incident prompted a multi-agency animal welfare investigation.
Major rivers including the Thames and Trent broke their banks in places while the Environment Agency issued more than 600 flood alerts or warnings in England.
Trains on Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway and Southeastern were blocked today due to a mixture of flooding, landslips and trees on the line. And some schools were closed due to flooding – including in Wiltshire and Berkshire.
In East London[3], 50 people were evacuated after streets turned into rivers in Hackney Wick with ten fire engines and 70 firefighters called to the scene when water started racing down the banks of the canal into residential streets and ground floor flats.
And Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident ‘due to rising levels along the River Trent’, telling residents in flood-risk areas to prepare to evacuate.
Environment Agency data revealed every river in England is now exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton which saw a flow double its previous record in December.
Doreen Cole surveys the damage to her property this morning after heavy rains and sewer system overflows caused the River Cherwell to break its banks in Islip, Oxfordshire
A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today
Cars make it through a flooded road in Essex this morning as the severe weather continues
The highest rainfall totals recorded yesterday were 35.2mm (1.4in) at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a range of 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) across much of the South.
The Environment Agency revealed more than 1,000 properties had been flooded this week in England, including hundreds overnight into this morning.
The agency’s executive flood director Caroline Douglass told BBC Breakfast: ‘We’re a country that’s wet and we always do get a lot of rainfall.
Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.
‘That’s been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. Rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there’s nowhere for the water to go. In that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we’ve seen and probably in areas where people aren’t used to it.’
In Gloucestershire, police warned of road closures due to rising water levels around Tewkesbury.
An evacuation centre was set up in the nearby village Walton Cardiff while people living on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in nearby Gloucester were urged to leave their homes for a nearby leisure centre.
As for the rescued cows yesterday, a Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We were called to fields of Wilne Road, Sawley, just before 1.40pm following concerns from passing M1 motorists about a number of cattle which appeared to be stranded in water nearby.
‘Officers attended along with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service.
Eight cows were rescued and four died. A number of animals are believed to be missing.
The Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red)
The Environment Agency has issued a map showing the peak levels of rivers in the Midlands
Recorded peak levels of rivers in the Midlands are shown in this Environment Agency map
A submerged car sits in a car park after heavy rain and sewer system overflows caused the River Thames to break its banks at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
The River Great Ouse in Bedford town centre, which has burst its banks, pictured today
Clayfield Copse has turned into a flooded quagmire this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire
Flooded fields at Woodford in North East London this morning amid weather chaos
Flood waters from the River Ouse approach properties in Barcombe Mills, East Sussex, today
Cows drowned in the village of Sawley, Derbyshire, last night – prompting an animal welfare investigation by Derbyshire Constabulary, which tweeted this picture of the cows it had saved
‘The owner of the cattle has been made aware, and the RSPCA, Derbyshire Trading Standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have all been notified. A multi-agency investigation is likely to be carried out to further establish the circumstances behind the incident.’
Racing off at Sandown amid waterlogged track
Sandown’s racing meeting tomorrow, set to feature the GBP100,000 Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase, has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track.
Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper and his team called an 8am precautionary inspection today as though the track was raceable at the time, heavy rain was forecast yesterday evening.
The predicted worst-case scenario was up to 20mm (0.8in) of rain, but even more fell at the Esher venue with 34mm (1.3in) recorded and it has left the course saturated with no hope of improvement in time for racing.
Mr Cooper said: ‘We’ve had 34mm of rain, which started at about 2pm yesterday afternoon and finally eased off at about 4am this morning.
‘I would say there are multiple areas on both courses (chase and hurdle tracks) of waterlogged, false ground and areas of standing water and there are no options in terms of realignment.
‘I think there is an element of judgement that it isn’t going to be materially better in 24 hours and we don’t think it will be sufficiently better in 24 hours.
It’s basically saturated ground that is going to sit like that for a number of days now.
‘It was just the wrong amount of rain at the wrong time for us, on top of what has already been a fairly wet spell, certainly since Christmas anyway.’
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Over in Leicestershire, a narrowboat was pushed sideways against a bridge as water streamed past it on the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, amid widespread flooding in the Midlands.
Local resident Sam Harper Ard, 27, said: ‘I live in the village and take my kayak out regularly on that stretch of the River Soar and I’ve never seen it so high.’
The PR manager said that ‘narrowboats are a real part of the community here’ so seeing a canal boat affected by the flooding was ‘really sad’.
‘I hope the owners and everyone involved is safe,’ he said.
Meanwhile a political backlash grew today, with Labour accusing the Government of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ over flood warnings.
The party wants Rishi Sunak to convene a ‘Cobra-style taskforce’ to protect homes from further damage.
In a joint statement shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: ‘The Conservatives have brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price.
‘Rishi Sunak has been asleep at the wheel and he must act now or risk further damage to lives and livelihoods.
‘This is not about extra money. This is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect. If that doesn’t happen, homes across the country will remain exposed.
‘Labour would create a Cobra-style Flood Resilience Taskforce to coordinate flood preparation and protect more households from the threats posed by climate change and flooding.’
Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak should visit areas impacted by flooding.
The party’s spokeswoman for housing and communities Helen Morgan said: ‘The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods.
People’s homes and businesses have been ruined yet again.
‘If Rishi Sunak actually met with people impacted by this annual carnage, then he might do something about it.
A man from Worcestershire has protected his property by building a flood wall around it
Nick Lupton, who lives next to the Severn, built the wall after being flooded 11 times since 2016
The property in Worcestershire has been protected from major flooding because of the wall
The man from Worcestershire has managed to keep his home dry after building the flood wall
A BMW was hit by a falling branch on the A25 near Godstone in Surrey this week
The tree smashed through the windscreen of a driver’s BMW i3 in Surrey during Storm Henk
The BMW was hit by a falling branch on the A25 near Godstone while the storm hit this week
‘Under this Government flood protection plans for homes have been disgracefully slashed. This must be reversed immediately.
‘This has to be the last year areas like mine in Shropshire are left to fend for themselves against floods.’
But Mr Sunak has said that people should be ‘reassured’ by the response to flooding in badly affected areas.
Speaking to broadcasters in Stockport today, the Prime Minister said: ‘I spoke to people in the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and talking to them about how devastating the impact of flooding is.
‘I just want people to be reassured that the Environment Agency has got people on the ground in all the affected areas, also hundreds of high volume pumps are in practice right now making a difference and it is important that people follow the advice that has been given in local areas where there are flood warnings that have been given.’
‘People should be reassured. The Environment Agency have people in the ground everywhere, absolutely recognise the urgency of what is happening and they are responding appropriately and with all due haste.’
Ken Button works at Kirk and Bill’s, a furniture workshop in Farndon Road, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
Water has risen up through the floorboards and drains due to flooding caused by the storm, submerging the workshop.
Mr Button has been pumping water out today, after a major incident was declared along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, which runs near to the workshop.
Matthew Bloodworth stands in his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey this morning
Damage caused to Matthew Bloodworth’s home on Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury today
Matthew Bloodworth stands outside his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today
Matthew Bloodworth stands in his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey this morning
Matthew Bloodworth walks outside his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today
A flooded living room at Matthew Bloodworth’s home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, today
Paul Cuff at his flooded property in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, this afternoon
Paul Cuff examines the flooding at his home in the Gloucestershire village of Maisemore today
Paul Cuff at his flooded property in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, this afternoon
He said: ‘This is the second time I can ever remember it happening.
Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA
A cold weather alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency with temperatures set to plummet over the coming days.
The Met Office added that the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into the next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice.
The UKHSA said: ‘A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill.
‘Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late.
‘Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas.
It is probably this cold spell may last well into the following week.’
The warning comes into force at 9am tomorrow and expires at noon on January 12.
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‘The last time was around 2000, and the building is well over 100 years old, and it hasn’t been a problem in the past, but for some reason or other it is now, which is presumably a sign of climate change.
‘It’s been a terrible start to the new year. We’ll have to see what we can salvage. I suppose the long-term solution is to raise the floor up, but at a cost.’
The flooding caused significant delays and cancellations to trains today, with Great Western Railway warning of ‘major disruption’ until the end of the day.
National Rail said: ‘Great Western Railway are currently experiencing significant disruption on the network and customers are advised to please check your journey before you travel.
‘Flooding and a serious incident near Reading last night, which involved police taking control of the line, has left trains and crew in the wrong place.
‘Short-notice cancellations and a reduced level of service on long-distance routes are expected throughout the day.’
Due to flooding, GWR lines were closed today between Swindon and Bristol Parkway; Reading and Castle Cary; and Liskeard and Looe.
CrossCountry and Transport for Wales said flooding between Gloucester and Lydney meant that all lines were blocked.
There was disruption on Southern services between Horsham and London Victoria due to a tree blocking the line at Ockley, meaning trains could not call at stations between Horsham and Dorking.
Elsewhere, a landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was causing disruption to journeys between Stevenage and Peterborough which affected six operators – Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink.
Debbie McGee’s home is surrounded by floodwater today after the Thames broke its banks
The home of Debbie McGee, the widow of magician Paul Daniels, is surrounded by floodwater
Floodwater surrounds the home of Debbie McGee which is located next to the River Thames
Kirk and Bill’s, a furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is flooded today
Flood water being pumped outside of Kirk and Bill’s in Newark-on-Trent this morning
Kirk and Bill’s, a furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is flooded today
Southeastern had major disruption this morning due to a landslip at Maidstone East.
It meant services could not run between Maidstone East and Otford, with passengers told to change at Otford for services to London Bridge, Waterloo East and London Charing Cross.
On the line from London Victoria to Ashford via Maidstone East, services were diverting via Paddock Wood between Otford and Ashford and were not call at any stations on the Maidstone East line.
Passengers were told to change at Otford for a bus replacement running to Ashford via Maidstone East.
On the line from Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East, trains were running but could be delayed.
Separately, Southeastern added that a landslip at Robertsbridge meant trains running through the station were being cancelled.
Teams of engineers were on site this morning with disruption expected until at least 6pm – and trains were not running on the Hastings line between Battle and Tunbridge Wells.
Elsewhere, South Western Railway said services running across the whole network may be cancelled, delayed or revised due to the heavy rainfall and multiple incidents of flooding as well as a landslip.
The National Rail website said: ‘The sheer amount of rain falling on already wet and waterlogged areas, so close after Storm Henk earlier this week, meant that in many locations trains were unable to run as it would not have been safe to do so.
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire
Major flooding at Alney Terrace on the outskirts of Gloucester this morning
A van avoids flood water from the River Ouse in Barcombe Mills, East Sussex, this afternoon
Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks
Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater this morning
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today
A dog looks out of a vehicle driving along a flooded road today in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire
Woodford in North East London is among the areas of Britain facing flooding misery today
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks
Residence check on their property on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today
Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire
A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
Flooding in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, today as the country battles with severe weather
‘Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, South Western Railway will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.
‘Disruption to the rest of the network is expected to last throughout today due to displaced trains and crews. South Western Railway urges everyone to check before they travel to see whether their train is running as planned.’
Today, experts warned the impact of surface water and river flooding will continue to be ‘significant’ across parts of England following heavy rainfall.
Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, said: ‘Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible across parts of the Midlands and the south and east of England due to heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.
‘Ongoing minor impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain.’
It comes just days after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.
Nottinghamshire County Council said forecasts were showing that peaks along the River Trent could ‘come close to the highest levels on record from the year 2000’, adding that residents in areas along the Trent valley should be ‘prepared for flooding’.
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire
A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks
Flooding near a Richer Sounds shop in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks
Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks
A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire
A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today
Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks
A man negotiates the floodwater on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today
Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning
A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
A man stranded on his shed roof by floodwater was rescued by a crew from Highfields Fire Station who used a boat to bring him safely to land.
In a statement, the council said: ‘Key tributaries which feed in to the river Trent, including the river Derwent, the river Soar and the river Dove, have already reached their peaks and high water levels will now pass down the Trent, which is likely to lead to flooding to properties and roads.
‘Residents who live in the flood-risk areas are being asked to ensure they have preparations in place in case they are asked to evacuate.
‘Councils, emergency services and the Environment Agency have been providing emergency support to communities impacted and will continue to provide support across the county.’
Several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated due to high water levels.
Dramatic aerial photographs showed how the caravan park had been completely cut off by floodwater.
The widespread flooding has also left some locals unable to leave their homes amid ‘disaster-like movie’ scenes at the estate for over-55s.
Apprenticeship tutor Sue Oosthuizen, 63, and husband Hans, 65, are currently trapped in their caravan with their cat and two pet chickens.
Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area
A couple make their way through floodwater at Hackney Wick in East London this morning
Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area
Firefighters at the scene in Hackney Wick, East London, overnight as the flooding continued
Flooding on Osney Bridge in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall in recent weeks
Police closed off the A264 near Crawley in West Sussex today following major flooding
Roads in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, are also closed today after it was badly hit by flooding
Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight
Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight
Water fills an underpass running under Hendon Way in Brent Cross, North West London, today
A landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent overnight has caused train chaos this morning
Network Rail engineers assess the landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent this morning
Southeastern is reporting flooding on its network this morning has flooded the line in Kent
She said: ‘We’re completely cut off from all sides and it’s the worst flooding we have ever known here. The only way you can get in and out is with waders as the water is at least two metres in deep in most places.
‘Several of our neighbours needed to be evacuated, including one poorly elderly neighbour.
The electricity has gone in some homes too, we’re lucky ours hasn’t. We also have two pet chickens, Agnes and Precious, who are now in the house with us as well as our 12-year-old cat Peppi.
‘We moved them indoors when we saw the water levels rising. The fact we’re on stilts has saved the water from coming into our home.
We just hope the levels will start to subside now. Although we’re stranded, we’ve had lots of help and support from the community.’
Another local resident, Phil Walker, 55, added: ‘I’ve never known anything like it, the whole site has become an island. People were marooned and couldn’t get out.
‘It just got higher and higher, it was quite frightening and like something from a disaster-movie.
‘You’ve got to feel for the people at the bottom nearest the river as they will have suffered some nasty damage I imagine.
It is really concerning.’
Following rainfall in London, a party boat which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub sank in the River Thames.
The Met Office[4] had issued a yellow weather warning of rain from 12pm yesterday until 3am this morning.
Forecasters had said there was a ‘small chance’ that communities could become cut off by flooded roads.
The period between July and December last year was the wettest on record dating back to 1890, according to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).
Since September, the start of the storm year, there have been eight named storms to hit the UK, which is the highest number in a season to be named by the Met Office since it began naming them in 2015.
This has turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke, from the University of Reading, described as a ‘sopping wet sponge’.
References
- ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ homeless (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)