More than 120 flood alerts are issued across the UK after more than a month’s worth of rain fell over weekend as forecasters warn of MORE torrential downpours this week
- 121 flood alerts and warnings issued across UK, including 91 in England, 21 in Scotland and eight in Wales
- More wet weather this week with Environment Agency monitoring situation closely with river levels rising
- Dry September has limited damage caused by Storm Alex which brought horrendous weather over weekend
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Fears of another autumn flood season for Britain were growing today as forecasters warned of further downpours after more than a month’s rainfall fell in 48 hours in some parts of the country.
More than 120 flood alerts and warnings have been issued across the UK, including 92 in England, 21 in Scotland and eight in Wales – with more wet weather forecast this week amid fears of further torrential rain for Thursday.
The Environment Agency was today monitoring the situation closely with river levels rising, but a dry September has limited the damage caused by Storm Alex which brought horrendous conditions over the weekend.
Further showers are expected today (left) before more heavy rainfall is on the way for parts of Britain tomorrow (right)
Downpours are also forecast for Wednesday (left) with the most torrential rain of the week expected on Thursday (right)
The Met Office said 5in (127mm) of rain fell at Blackpitts Gate in Somerset in the 48 hours to midday yesterday, which was the highest in the country. The average for the whole of October is 4¼in (108mm).
Most areas endured heavy rain and windy conditions throughout Saturday and Sunday. Some homes in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, were flooded – and the River Coquet burst its banks in Rothbury, Northumberland.
Flooding on train lines caused disruption to services in Scotland. In North Wales, homes at Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd have been flooded for the second time in six weeks after a river burst its banks.
A family of four were rescued by firefighters from a road in Billericay, Essex, on Saturday after their car became trapped in floodwater, while police forces issued warnings to drivers after crashes on waterlogged roads.
Some 120 flood alerts and warnings have been issued across the UK, including 92 in England (left) and 21 in Scotland (right)
Firefighters and water utilities workers are seen at a flooded area in Hemel Hempstead yesterday after the heavy rain
A resident of Rothbury in Northumberland bails water from their vehicle yesterday after the River Coquet burst its banks
On Millennium Bridge in London, people walked under umbrellas during the downpours in the capital yesterday
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the wet weather had been ‘quite widespread’, adding: ‘You’ve been extremely lucky if you have gone through the weekend without seeing much rain at all.’
The downpours had also been accompanied by plunging temperatures, well below the seasonal average, and windy conditions. Mr Snell said the ‘unsettled conditions’ would continue this week.
‘The next three days we will see sunshine and showers,’ he said. ‘It remains unsettled but a notch down from the weekend. The temperatures will be below par for the time of year.’
Mr Snell said forecasters were ‘keeping an eye on Thursday’ as another low pressure system sweeping in from the Atlantic could bring in more heavy rain and strong winds.
There remains ‘uncertainty’ about how bad the weather will be later in the week, he added.
‘This driver had a very lucky escape.’: Fire crews rescue motorist after their car is washed away in a flood
A driver had to be plucked to safety after their car was washed away in a flood as Storm Alex battered Britain.
Firefighters were called to help after the motorist got marooned yesterday in the Warwickshire village of Wellesbourne. The driver was able to smash a window but could not get out.
A Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: ‘Please don’t risk your safety by trying to drive through flood water, and look carefully for depth gauges at fords. This driver had a very lucky escape.
‘It could have been a very different story if this had happened later in the evening. Please do not put our firefighters at risk by driving through flood water. You will get stuck and we will have to come and rescue you.’
Fire crews from Wellesbourne and Stratford Fire Stations were called to the incident, and the spokesman added: ‘Please take an extra five minutes and use an alternative route.’
Firefighters were called to help after the motorist got marooned yesterday in the Warwickshire village of Wellesbourne
The driver had to be plucked to safety after their car was washed away in a flood in Warwickshire yesterday as the storm battered Britain