After a dry period of respite for many parts of Britain over the last two days, the wet weather is set to return this evening and get worse tomorrow as a slow-moving area of low pressure brings thundery showers and strong winds.
The Met Office has issued a new warning of wet and windy weather with periods of persistent heavy rain for parts of Wales and south-western England from late today until Saturday.
The Weather Channel said rivers would be overwhelmed and warned of a “major flooding event.” Up to 50mm more rain is due in many areas on Friday.
The Environment Agency told people in the South-West, Wales and Midlands to “prepare for flooding.” Dozens of flood alerts and warnings are expected to be in place tomorrow.
EA bosses implemented 24-hour shift patterns, visited all 150 campsites in Devon and Cornwall to warn of flooding and dispatched hundreds of extra flood specialists to assess nationwide defences and clear debris blocking rivers and drains.
There are concerns the rain could lead to surface water flooding particularly in upland areas and places already at risk of floods after heavy rain earlier this week.
Pumping equipment has been deployed in several areas in West Sussex to pump out water following flooding earlier in the week.
In preparation, teams were out closing flood gates, operating flood storage areas, clearing debris from known hotspots and warning local communities about the possibility of flooding.
Peter Quarmby, the Environment Agency’s South East flood and coastal risk manager, said: “We have seen exceptional rainfall in the region over the past few days and have seen the devastating effects that flooding can cause.
“Our thoughts are with those who have been affected.
“We are focusing all efforts in working in areas that have been affected by flooding over the past few days to lower river levels and will continue to work alongside our emergency partners to assist flooded communities with immediate response and recovery.
“Latest forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall is again expected to cross the South East on Friday and into the weekend. We urge everyone to remain vigilant ahead of further rainfall tomorrow and over the weekend.
“We are monitoring the weather forecasts very closely and the possibility remains that we could issue further flood alerts in response to any significant rainfall.”
Telegraph has the full article
