Flood forecast improving but the risk of flooding continues
Parts of southern, south west and central England remain at risk of flooding as river levels remain high. While the overall picture is starting to improve as river levels stabilise, risks to people and property remain.
Severe flood warnings remain in place along the Thames and in Somerset where water levels continue to rise in response to recent rainfall. Ground water flooding also continues to pose a risk in some places.
The Environment Agency is working with the local authority and military to reduce the risk of flooding from the River Test in Romsey, Hampshire where there is a risk of river banks being overtopped.
River levels will respond quicklto further rainfall
Despite the improving weather, the Met Office is forecasting further rain on Monday. With the ground already saturated, rivers levels will respond quickly to further rainfall. Areas of standing water could take many weeks to drain from flooded land.
River levels on the Thames are expected to rise again over the next five days as rainwater from the recent bad weather moves downstream. These levels are not expected to exceed those already seen in recent days.
There is also a continued risk of flooding for the Somerset Moors and Levels, where levels continue to rise.
Environment Agency working to support local authorities' relief effort
The Environment Agency continues to monitor river and ground water levels closely. Environment Agency teams are working round the clock to support local authorities’ relief effort and to inspect damage to coastal defences.
The Thames Barrier was closed today at 11am for a record eighteenth consecutive time as the Environment Agency works to protect communities along the River Thames.
The largest pumping operation ever undertaken in Somerset continues. 54 pumps are working around the clock to drain over one million tonnes of water per day.
On the coast, the threat of tidal flooding is now receding. However, the public are urged to remain away from the seafront as waves remain high.
River levels on the Severn remain high but are now falling gradually. They will increase again in response to rainfall but are not expected to cause additional flooding.
At 13:30 there are 16 Severe Flood Warnings including 14 for the River Thames from Old Windsor to Shepperton and two for the Somerset Levels & Moors. There are also 134 flood warnings and 186 flood alerts for England.
Since the 1st January 2014, the Environment Agency has sent over two and a half million flood warning messages to the people with properties at risk of flooding.
Real and devastating impacts of flooding
Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “We continue to see the very real and devastating impacts that flooding can have on communities and business. We understand the distress that flooding can bring. We are doing everything we can to reduce the impacts of flooding and to help those communities affected.
“Despite an improving forecast the risk of flooding will continue for many communities in southern parts of England over the next few days and we will continue to see large areas under floodwater for many days to come.
“Environment Agency teams are working round the clock to support local authorities’ relief effort. We have deployed over fifty temporary defences protecting many homes and businesses. Over 1.3 million properties have been protected since the start of December as a result of Environment Agency defences.”
“The public are urged to keep up to date with the latest situation on the Environment Agency website, local authorities’ websites and on social media using #floodaware.”
Further information
- Latest flood warnings (updated every 15 minutes)
- Flood warning codes explained
- Three day flood forecast
- Advice on what to do before, during and after flooding
- Latest weather information from the Met Office
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