England and Wales are bracing for potential flooding chaos with over 100 flood warnings in effect today as heavy rains continue to sweep east. Forecasters anticipate up to 50mm of rain drenching certain areas throughout the day, raising concerns of further damage following the aftermath of Storm Bert.
The most critical warning, indicating a severe “danger to life” risk, is for the River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and nearby business parks in Northampton, which suffered significant flooding on Monday. Over 1,000 individuals were evacuated from the holiday park after it was inundated by the worst floodwaters in 35 years.
The River Severn is under close watch, with several flood warnings issued from Gloucestershire up to Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The Environment Agency has reported that “river levels remain high” along the Severn, with ongoing threats of property, road, and farmland flooding, particularly around Worcester.
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Most of the Midlands are on alert, including two warnings for the River Avon in Worcestershire. In Wales, four warnings have been issued, with two focused on the River Wye in Monmouthshire.
Residents in these areas are urged by the Environment Agency to “act now” to prepare for possible floods, reports the Mirror.
The Met Office has also flagged concerns, stating: “An area of rain is expected to reach parts of southern England overnight Tuesday, becoming persistent and heavy in places for a time.”
The Met Office has issued a stark warning: “Much of the warning area will see 15-20 mm of rain with 30-40 mm in some areas. There is a lower chance of 50 mm of rain in a few places, more likely for the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent, before rain eases and clears by early afternoon. Given recent wet weather, some disruption to travel and infrastructure is likely.”
The weather alerts are set to stay in place until midday on Wednesday, with one covering parts of Dorset and Devon, while the other spans from Hampshire westwards to Essex and Kent in the east. Increased journey times are expected during rush hour due to spray and flooding, homes and businesses could be flooded, and there may also be interruptions to power supplies and services, experts from the Met Office advise.
They also released a comprehensive list of severe flood warnings currently in place, including for River Wye at Monmouth across several points, and the River Monnow at Watery Lane, Over Monnow and Forge Road, Osbaston.
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