Widespread flood warnings as river levels surge after heavy rain
The UK could be hit by widespread flooding if rivers burst their banks following the weekend’s heavy rain.
The Environment Agency has issued 82 flood warnings and 117 flood alerts, with the Midlands most affected by the wet weather.
Due to heavy rain over the weekend – which postponed football matches, caused train delays and flooded roads – river levels have remained high.
Following the heavy rain over the weekend, rivers remain very high in a number of areas, especially across the midlands, we still have a high number of #flood alerts and warnings in place so stay #FloodAware and check your flood risk and get advice here: https://t.co/BpUpnj1mddpic.twitter.com/H6yVNcEpfg
— Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) October 28, 2019
The River Severn in the West Midlands is due to be a flood risk until Tuesday, while the River Wye and the River Trent also have multiple warnings in place.
The Environment Agency said there will be travel disruption in the affected areas and some individual properties will flood.
Despite the warnings, the country is expected to have some dry and sunny weather on Monday.
Good morning UK! Most areas bright with long periods of sunshine, albeit hazy across southern England. Most parts dry, but some showers over northern Scotland & the far east of England. Cloudier and windy over Cornwall where rain at times for some. https://t.co/cQSfu1VDbo ^Steve pic.twitter.com/sW6YZhuIkH
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 28, 2019
In a forecast issued for Monday, the Met Office said: “Most areas bright with long periods of sunshine, albeit hazy across southern England.
“Most parts dry, but some showers over northern Scotland and the far east of England.
“Cloudier and windy over Cornwall where rain at times for some.”
But due to the warnings, flood defences have been put in place in Bewdley, Hereford, Upton-upon-Severn and Shrewsbury, and temporary barriers were erected at Ironbridge in Shropshire.
The flood forecast issued by the Environment Agency on Sunday said: “Local flooding is expected from rivers across parts of the West Midlands today and tomorrow.
Very unusual for the River Severn to be at such high levels for its entire length (in England).
We’ve got flood warnings in place from the Welsh border to Gloucester.
Most of our flood defences now deployed or being deployed, protecting hundreds of homes & businesses. pic.twitter.com/qaolGegFQq
— Dave Throup (@DaveThroupEA) October 28, 2019
“Local flooding from rivers is also probable across other parts of the Midlands and parts of Lincolnshire today and also possible over parts of Yorkshire today and Nottinghamshire tomorrow.
“Local ongoing flooding from the River Severn in the West Midlands is possible through to Tuesday.
“Land, roads and some individual properties will flood and there will be local travel disruption.”