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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/30/storm-frank-further-flooding-gales-rain-batter-british-isles

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Version 28 Version 29
Storm Frank: floods expected as gales and rain batter Britain and Ireland – as it happened Storm Frank: floods expected as gales and rain batter Britain and Ireland – as it happened
(6 days later)
9.58pm GMT9.58pm GMT
21:5821:58
Osborne accused of over flood defencesOsborne accused of over flood defences
The Chancellor, George Osborne, has been accused of jeopardising Britain’s crumbling flood defences over the past five years by prioritising cuts to the deficit, and has also been warned that infrastructure spending may need to rise sharply to adapt to climate change.The Chancellor, George Osborne, has been accused of jeopardising Britain’s crumbling flood defences over the past five years by prioritising cuts to the deficit, and has also been warned that infrastructure spending may need to rise sharply to adapt to climate change.
You can read a full report here on the warnings leading academics. Here’s a snippet:You can read a full report here on the warnings leading academics. Here’s a snippet:
Professor Simon Wren-Lewis, of Oxford University, who has analysed data on recent flood spending, said there was little sign that the government had changed course to take into account the growing threat of extreme weather.Professor Simon Wren-Lewis, of Oxford University, who has analysed data on recent flood spending, said there was little sign that the government had changed course to take into account the growing threat of extreme weather.
“What you would really expect is to see spending at a much higher level,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like the same kind of reaction which we know has happened to the threat of terrorism, where we know spending levels have increased by a large magnitude.”“What you would really expect is to see spending at a much higher level,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like the same kind of reaction which we know has happened to the threat of terrorism, where we know spending levels have increased by a large magnitude.”
David Cameron has promised to invest £400m a year on shoring up flood defences over the next six years; but official data shows spending was cut sharply at the start of the last parliament, from £360m in 2010-11, to less than £270m in 2012-13.David Cameron has promised to invest £400m a year on shoring up flood defences over the next six years; but official data shows spending was cut sharply at the start of the last parliament, from £360m in 2010-11, to less than £270m in 2012-13.
The blog is being wrapped up nowThe blog is being wrapped up now
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.59pm GMTat 9.59pm GMT
9.56pm GMT9.56pm GMT
21:5621:56
Phyllis Young was one of those on board the Stagecoach bus when it got into difficulty in Dailly, South Ayrshire (See earlier post)Phyllis Young was one of those on board the Stagecoach bus when it got into difficulty in Dailly, South Ayrshire (See earlier post)
Speaking after the rescue, she told BBC Scotland:Speaking after the rescue, she told BBC Scotland:
The water came in the bus, it came up and up and got to the windows and was just like big waves. You could see the current - it was very, very scary.The water came in the bus, it came up and up and got to the windows and was just like big waves. You could see the current - it was very, very scary.
We moved up to the back of the bus because the seats were higher. I actually sat on the ledge at the back. Some people were standing on the seat grab bars. My feet and legs were in the water the whole time.We moved up to the back of the bus because the seats were higher. I actually sat on the ledge at the back. Some people were standing on the seat grab bars. My feet and legs were in the water the whole time.
The whole of the front lower section of the bus was completely covered with water.The whole of the front lower section of the bus was completely covered with water.
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said the road was open to traffic at the time the bus was making the journey from Girvan to Ayr.A Stagecoach spokeswoman said the road was open to traffic at the time the bus was making the journey from Girvan to Ayr.
8.31pm GMT8.31pm GMT
20:3120:31
The Environment Agency’s Chairman, Philip Dilley, is reported to be facing a grilling next week from MPs.The Environment Agency’s Chairman, Philip Dilley, is reported to be facing a grilling next week from MPs.
Dilley has been visiting flood-hit areas of the north of England following his return from a much-criticised holiday in the Carribbean.Dilley has been visiting flood-hit areas of the north of England following his return from a much-criticised holiday in the Carribbean.
However, the parliamentary committee that has oversight of the Agency is now said to have summoned Dilley to face questions on Wednesday.However, the parliamentary committee that has oversight of the Agency is now said to have summoned Dilley to face questions on Wednesday.
The Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick told the Daily Telegraph that the agency’s chairman had “opened himself up to all manner of questions”.The Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick told the Daily Telegraph that the agency’s chairman had “opened himself up to all manner of questions”.
Fitzpatrick added:Fitzpatrick added:
When he took the job he criticised his predecessor Chris Smith and said he would be a different kind of chairman, and the fact that he hasn’t performed as he promised leaves him open to criticism.When he took the job he criticised his predecessor Chris Smith and said he would be a different kind of chairman, and the fact that he hasn’t performed as he promised leaves him open to criticism.
He is being evasive…but the public have a right to know what he is doing and the reaction of people he has met, so it’s very disappointing.He is being evasive…but the public have a right to know what he is doing and the reaction of people he has met, so it’s very disappointing.
Here is some video from earlier today (via the Press Association) showing the media reception in London for Dilley:Here is some video from earlier today (via the Press Association) showing the media reception in London for Dilley:
Environment Agency chairman Sir Philip Dilley returns from the Bahamas to face questions on #StormFrank flooding https://t.co/Jr6M3xxYccEnvironment Agency chairman Sir Philip Dilley returns from the Bahamas to face questions on #StormFrank flooding https://t.co/Jr6M3xxYcc
8.17pm GMT8.17pm GMT
20:1720:17
Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced an emergency scheme for households affected by flooding, Henry McDonald reports.Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced an emergency scheme for households affected by flooding, Henry McDonald reports.
Durkan said that individual householders who have suffered severe inconvenience can claim £1,000 payment from their local council, as an offer of practical assistance.Durkan said that individual householders who have suffered severe inconvenience can claim £1,000 payment from their local council, as an offer of practical assistance.
The payment is meant to ensure that homes are made habitable as quickly as possible. It is not a compensation payment, according to Durkan.The payment is meant to ensure that homes are made habitable as quickly as possible. It is not a compensation payment, according to Durkan.
8.02pm GMT8.02pm GMT
20:0220:02
A large number of emergency service members are working tonight in “unprecedented flood conditions in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, according to Peter Heath, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer at the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.A large number of emergency service members are working tonight in “unprecedented flood conditions in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, according to Peter Heath, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer at the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.
Peebles is one of the locations where a “severe flooding - danger to life” warning has been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), along with Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway.Peebles is one of the locations where a “severe flooding - danger to life” warning has been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), along with Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway.
Three hundred homes were evacuated in Peebles, from where James Matthews tweeted these images a few hours earlier:Three hundred homes were evacuated in Peebles, from where James Matthews tweeted these images a few hours earlier:
Peebles #stormfrank https://t.co/z5Tu9NtUh3Peebles #stormfrank https://t.co/z5Tu9NtUh3
7.50pm GMT7.50pm GMT
19:5019:50
The latest forecast from the Met Office says that winds should ease overnight and New year’s Eve is set to be a “brighter, colder day” with sunshine and showers.The latest forecast from the Met Office says that winds should ease overnight and New year’s Eve is set to be a “brighter, colder day” with sunshine and showers.
This evening and overnight to the south of a line from approximately mid Wales to the Humber, rain will continue at times.This evening and overnight to the south of a line from approximately mid Wales to the Humber, rain will continue at times.
Showers will follow the rain in northern and western areas. Some of these showers will turn wintry with squally winds across Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland for a time this evening before drier weather follows later. The wind should continue to ease overnight.Showers will follow the rain in northern and western areas. Some of these showers will turn wintry with squally winds across Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland for a time this evening before drier weather follows later. The wind should continue to ease overnight.
New Year’s Eve (Thursday) looks to be a brighter, colder day with sunshine and showers, some heavy with hail and thunder especially during the afternoon. A cold night is then expected with a widespread frost in all parts.New Year’s Eve (Thursday) looks to be a brighter, colder day with sunshine and showers, some heavy with hail and thunder especially during the afternoon. A cold night is then expected with a widespread frost in all parts.
Many areas should be fine and dry on New Year’s Day (Friday), but cloud, rain and strong winds are likely to return from the west over the weekend.Many areas should be fine and dry on New Year’s Day (Friday), but cloud, rain and strong winds are likely to return from the west over the weekend.
Patchy frost in the north, whilst rain clears to showers. Blustery in the south. Here to help. ^TLH pic.twitter.com/6fvLxQsLnyPatchy frost in the north, whilst rain clears to showers. Blustery in the south. Here to help. ^TLH pic.twitter.com/6fvLxQsLny
The Met Office added that this “unsettled and occasionally stormy spell” was well signalled in our recent three month outlooks and is not unusual for this time of year.The Met Office added that this “unsettled and occasionally stormy spell” was well signalled in our recent three month outlooks and is not unusual for this time of year.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.53pm GMTat 7.53pm GMT
7.40pm GMT7.40pm GMT
19:4019:40
The Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk has apologised after pictures emerged showing him in a bar on Boxing Day as floods swept through parts of the town.The Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk has apologised after pictures emerged showing him in a bar on Boxing Day as floods swept through parts of the town.
In a piece for the Rochdale Observer, he wrote:In a piece for the Rochdale Observer, he wrote:
I would like to take this opportunity to personally apologise to those who felt I misjudged my immediate response to the floods and reassure my constituents that I have redoubled my efforts to make sure our town gets the help it needs to get back on its feet.I would like to take this opportunity to personally apologise to those who felt I misjudged my immediate response to the floods and reassure my constituents that I have redoubled my efforts to make sure our town gets the help it needs to get back on its feet.
Here’s the tweet from his then girlfriend, Claire Hamilton, which landed him in troubleHere’s the tweet from his then girlfriend, Claire Hamilton, which landed him in trouble
Having a fun evening at @ViceroyLeyland with @SimonDanczuk & flat cap pic.twitter.com/NtZoOdwzlwHaving a fun evening at @ViceroyLeyland with @SimonDanczuk & flat cap pic.twitter.com/NtZoOdwzlw
7.30pm GMT7.30pm GMT
19:3019:30
A bit of good news perhaps now at least. There are currently no severe flood warnings ( meaning ‘Severe flooding. Danger to life’) in place for England and Wales, according to the Environment Agency.A bit of good news perhaps now at least. There are currently no severe flood warnings ( meaning ‘Severe flooding. Danger to life’) in place for England and Wales, according to the Environment Agency.
That’s something which has changed from the situation about an hour ago.That’s something which has changed from the situation about an hour ago.
However, 31 warnings (flooding is expected. Immediate action required) and 131 alerts (flooding is possible. Be prepared) are in place.However, 31 warnings (flooding is expected. Immediate action required) and 131 alerts (flooding is possible. Be prepared) are in place.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 12 flood alerts, 73 flood warnings and two severe flood warnings in place.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 12 flood alerts, 73 flood warnings and two severe flood warnings in place.
Here is the latest wrap of the situation around the country from our team:Here is the latest wrap of the situation around the country from our team:
Related: Storm Frank batters large parts of UK as weather misery deepensRelated: Storm Frank batters large parts of UK as weather misery deepens
7.17pm GMT7.17pm GMT
19:1719:17
It sounds grim on board Henry McDonald’s train. He says that a Translink employee has come on board to confirm that the railway line beyond Portadown has been “completely submerged” due to the flooding.It sounds grim on board Henry McDonald’s train. He says that a Translink employee has come on board to confirm that the railway line beyond Portadown has been “completely submerged” due to the flooding.
He also told passengers that there is a missing bus of passengers who boarded a coach from Portadown Station for Newry.He also told passengers that there is a missing bus of passengers who boarded a coach from Portadown Station for Newry.
(7.41 update: Henry says the Translink man has told passengers they have found the coach driver and the passengers picked up at Portadown. They will be at flood free Newry station in ten minutes. Now they can finally move off.)(7.41 update: Henry says the Translink man has told passengers they have found the coach driver and the passengers picked up at Portadown. They will be at flood free Newry station in ten minutes. Now they can finally move off.)
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.42pm GMTat 7.42pm GMT
7.15pm GMT7.15pm GMT
19:1519:15
Two children among 12 rescued from busTwo children among 12 rescued from bus
Two children were among a total of 12 people who were rescued from a bus after it stranded in flood water in Scotland, according to new details coming through about that rescue which we reported on earlier.Two children were among a total of 12 people who were rescued from a bus after it stranded in flood water in Scotland, according to new details coming through about that rescue which we reported on earlier.
Ten passengers were airlifted by a Royal Navy helicopter from the vehicle when it became stuck in Dailly, South Ayrshire, at about 1.35pm.Ten passengers were airlifted by a Royal Navy helicopter from the vehicle when it became stuck in Dailly, South Ayrshire, at about 1.35pm.
A further two people were taken off the bus by officers from Police Scotland’s marine unit.A further two people were taken off the bus by officers from Police Scotland’s marine unit.
The four men, six women, a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were all taken to a local community centre to be assessed by medical staff, police confirmed.The four men, six women, a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were all taken to a local community centre to be assessed by medical staff, police confirmed.
The bus is expected to be removed from the scene on Thursday.The bus is expected to be removed from the scene on Thursday.
The passengers are all in good spirits and there are no injuries, according to Police Scotland. They were brought to a local community centre.The passengers are all in good spirits and there are no injuries, according to Police Scotland. They were brought to a local community centre.
Here’s an image of the bus, as tweeted by STV News.Here’s an image of the bus, as tweeted by STV News.
UPDATE: Ten rescued from bus stuck in flood water in South Ayrshire and taken to hospital https://t.co/NXMchraI7J pic.twitter.com/4OtU5oxGNwUPDATE: Ten rescued from bus stuck in flood water in South Ayrshire and taken to hospital https://t.co/NXMchraI7J pic.twitter.com/4OtU5oxGNw
7.03pm GMT7.03pm GMT
19:0319:03
Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
Flooding has caused major disruption tonight to the Belfast to Dublin rail link.Flooding has caused major disruption tonight to the Belfast to Dublin rail link.
No trains are running between Belfast Central station and Newry due to flood water south of Portadown in Co.Armagh.No trains are running between Belfast Central station and Newry due to flood water south of Portadown in Co.Armagh.
It meant that passengers including this writer had to be taken by bus from Belfast to Newry as part of the usual 18.05 service to Dublin.It meant that passengers including this writer had to be taken by bus from Belfast to Newry as part of the usual 18.05 service to Dublin.
Although most passengers have boarded the train the sleek new upgraded Enterprise train at Newry station it still hasn’t moved off and will be later into Dublin Connolly tonight.Although most passengers have boarded the train the sleek new upgraded Enterprise train at Newry station it still hasn’t moved off and will be later into Dublin Connolly tonight.
6.44pm GMT6.44pm GMT
18:4418:44
Environment Agency Chair visits flood-hit areasEnvironment Agency Chair visits flood-hit areas
Ben QuinnBen Quinn
Looking tanned after returning from a much-criticised holiday in the Caribbean while parts of Britain coped with some of its worst flooding in decades, the Chairman of the Environment Agency appears to have popped up in flood-hit areas of the north.Looking tanned after returning from a much-criticised holiday in the Caribbean while parts of Britain coped with some of its worst flooding in decades, the Chairman of the Environment Agency appears to have popped up in flood-hit areas of the north.
Philip Dilley visited Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd this afternoon after returning from Barbados, according to pictures posted on Twitter.Philip Dilley visited Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd this afternoon after returning from Barbados, according to pictures posted on Twitter.
The Environment Agency tweeted from its envagency account: “Our chairman’s visited volunteers, wardens & those affected by flooding in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge & Mytholmroyd.”The Environment Agency tweeted from its envagency account: “Our chairman’s visited volunteers, wardens & those affected by flooding in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge & Mytholmroyd.”
It received several replies, including one from posh-tiger, who wrote: “Chairman has a nice tan.”It received several replies, including one from posh-tiger, who wrote: “Chairman has a nice tan.”
A second tweet showed him meeting staff “in our Yorkshire incident room”.A second tweet showed him meeting staff “in our Yorkshire incident room”.
Our chairman meets staff in our #Yorkshire incident room #floodaware pic.twitter.com/FSyfuusOAlOur chairman meets staff in our #Yorkshire incident room #floodaware pic.twitter.com/FSyfuusOAl
That tweet, and others, drew a range of scathing comments underneath.That tweet, and others, drew a range of scathing comments underneath.
@EnvAgency .... shame the hardworking EA staff were let down by the suntanned Chairman 🌞😎@EnvAgency .... shame the hardworking EA staff were let down by the suntanned Chairman 🌞😎
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.06pm GMTat 7.06pm GMT
6.37pm GMT6.37pm GMT
18:3718:37
Some more details of apparent looting now. In York, Police said that there had been four burglaries and one attempted break-in at flood-affected homes in the Huntington Road area.Some more details of apparent looting now. In York, Police said that there had been four burglaries and one attempted break-in at flood-affected homes in the Huntington Road area.
North Yorkshire Police said there were a further seven break-ins reported at chalets and caravans at a site in the city.North Yorkshire Police said there were a further seven break-ins reported at chalets and caravans at a site in the city.
All incidents were currently under investigation.Police and the Army were carrying out patrols to reassure residents who were asked to remain vigilant.All incidents were currently under investigation.Police and the Army were carrying out patrols to reassure residents who were asked to remain vigilant.
North Yorkshire Police Acting Superintendent Mark Grange said:North Yorkshire Police Acting Superintendent Mark Grange said:
We have seen the best of human nature over these past few days, and the now the worst.We have seen the best of human nature over these past few days, and the now the worst.
I would like to reiterate my message to those who choose to add further misery to residents who have already suffered, North Yorkshire Police is doing everything possible to bring you to justice and, make no mistake, you will face the full force of the law.I would like to reiterate my message to those who choose to add further misery to residents who have already suffered, North Yorkshire Police is doing everything possible to bring you to justice and, make no mistake, you will face the full force of the law.
This is Ben Quinn taking over the blog now from David Batty.This is Ben Quinn taking over the blog now from David Batty.
6.05pm GMT6.05pm GMT
18:0518:05
Police Scotland said 10 people have been uplifted from the bus stranded in flood water in Dailly, South Ayrshire. They were taken to Girvan Hospital as efforts continued to remove all passengers safely from the vehicle.Police Scotland said 10 people have been uplifted from the bus stranded in flood water in Dailly, South Ayrshire. They were taken to Girvan Hospital as efforts continued to remove all passengers safely from the vehicle.
Meanwhile the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a “severe flooding - danger to life” warning for Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway and for the River Tweed in Peebles in the Borders.Meanwhile the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a “severe flooding - danger to life” warning for Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway and for the River Tweed in Peebles in the Borders.
Police, coastguard and ambulance crews are responding to reports of a missing kayaker on the River Findhorn in Moray.Police, coastguard and ambulance crews are responding to reports of a missing kayaker on the River Findhorn in Moray.
The Scottish Government’s resilience committee has met to assess the response to what environment minister Aileen McLeod described as a “very serious situation”.The Scottish Government’s resilience committee has met to assess the response to what environment minister Aileen McLeod described as a “very serious situation”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.06pm GMTat 6.06pm GMT
5.43pm GMT5.43pm GMT
17:4317:43
Here’s some dramatic footage of a caravan swept away by flood water in the River Dee in Aberdeenshire during Storm Frank.Here’s some dramatic footage of a caravan swept away by flood water in the River Dee in Aberdeenshire during Storm Frank.
5.19pm GMT5.19pm GMT
17:1917:19
Libby BrooksLibby Brooks
Police Scotland have now confirmed that seven people have been rescued from the bus stranded in flood water in Dailly, South Ayrshire. They have been taken to Girvan Hospital where they will be checked over by medical staff, and emergency services are still at the scene rescuing the remaining passengers.Police Scotland have now confirmed that seven people have been rescued from the bus stranded in flood water in Dailly, South Ayrshire. They have been taken to Girvan Hospital where they will be checked over by medical staff, and emergency services are still at the scene rescuing the remaining passengers.
Eyewitness Joanne Clanahan told Sky News the bus got halfway through the floodwater before getting stuck.Eyewitness Joanne Clanahan told Sky News the bus got halfway through the floodwater before getting stuck.
Meanwhile Police Scotland are advising that, although the heavy rain is now easing, water levels will continue to rise throughout the day and into the evening, with areas across Tayside likely to be significantly affected by flood water.Meanwhile Police Scotland are advising that, although the heavy rain is now easing, water levels will continue to rise throughout the day and into the evening, with areas across Tayside likely to be significantly affected by flood water.
Further disruption to road and rail travel is predicted, with a number of major roads Perth and Kinross already closed due to flooding, and access to Aberfeldy being particularly restricted.Further disruption to road and rail travel is predicted, with a number of major roads Perth and Kinross already closed due to flooding, and access to Aberfeldy being particularly restricted.
UpdatedUpdated
at 5.45pm GMTat 5.45pm GMT
4.58pm GMT4.58pm GMT
16:5816:58
West Yorkshire Police have arrested a 40-year-old on suspicion of theft after residents concerned about looting from flooded homes raised the alarm.West Yorkshire Police have arrested a 40-year-old on suspicion of theft after residents concerned about looting from flooded homes raised the alarm.
Officers responded to reports in the Mytholmroyd area about a man acting suspiciously near wrecked properties earlier this morning, according to the Press Association.Officers responded to reports in the Mytholmroyd area about a man acting suspiciously near wrecked properties earlier this morning, according to the Press Association.
A force spokesman said the man, from the Dewsbury area, remained in custody and inquiries were ongoing.A force spokesman said the man, from the Dewsbury area, remained in custody and inquiries were ongoing.
4.39pm GMT4.39pm GMT
16:3916:39
Libby BrooksLibby Brooks
Passengers are being rescued after a local bus became stuck in flood water near the village of Dailly, which sits on the River Girvan in South Ayrshire.Passengers are being rescued after a local bus became stuck in flood water near the village of Dailly, which sits on the River Girvan in South Ayrshire.
Police were called just after 1.30pm and they are currently working with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the coastguard and Royal Navy helicopter service at the scene.Police were called just after 1.30pm and they are currently working with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the coastguard and Royal Navy helicopter service at the scene.
Police Scotland would not confirm how many were on the bus, although it said that efforts were ongoing to remove the passengers safely. Other reports suggested that 12 people were stranded.Police Scotland would not confirm how many were on the bus, although it said that efforts were ongoing to remove the passengers safely. Other reports suggested that 12 people were stranded.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.55pm GMTat 4.55pm GMT
4.29pm GMT4.29pm GMT
16:2916:29
Libby BrooksLibby Brooks
Paul Wheelhouse, the SNP member for South Scotland, has been visiting affected areas across the Scottish Borders.Paul Wheelhouse, the SNP member for South Scotland, has been visiting affected areas across the Scottish Borders.
He told the Guardian: “People are naturally worried but relieved that it has not been as bad as they feared, which is largely testament to the hard work of emergency services and volunteers overnight, who did everything they humanly could to protect individual premises with sand bags. I’ve met some shattered people today who were working throughout the night.”He told the Guardian: “People are naturally worried but relieved that it has not been as bad as they feared, which is largely testament to the hard work of emergency services and volunteers overnight, who did everything they humanly could to protect individual premises with sand bags. I’ve met some shattered people today who were working throughout the night.”
He noted that local river levels were still rising: “The Tweed is very swollen and it will take hours before that water works its way down through Kelso, Coldstream and to the coast. We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re hoping for drier weather will help now.”He noted that local river levels were still rising: “The Tweed is very swollen and it will take hours before that water works its way down through Kelso, Coldstream and to the coast. We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re hoping for drier weather will help now.”
Bit of a whirpool created near Sonia's Bistro near my office in #Hawick as Teviot pushing back Slitrig circa 3PM pic.twitter.com/XwBtv2JLYTBit of a whirpool created near Sonia's Bistro near my office in #Hawick as Teviot pushing back Slitrig circa 3PM pic.twitter.com/XwBtv2JLYT
Wheelhouse posted scenes of flooding outside his office in Hawick, where the rivers Slitrik and Teviot meet, and also visited Selkirk, where he was told that the river Ettrick, a tributary of the Tweed, was flowing at a rate of 400 square meteres per second.Wheelhouse posted scenes of flooding outside his office in Hawick, where the rivers Slitrik and Teviot meet, and also visited Selkirk, where he was told that the river Ettrick, a tributary of the Tweed, was flowing at a rate of 400 square meteres per second.
4.08pm GMT4.08pm GMT
16:0816:08
Afternoon summaryAfternoon summary
Mark TranMark Tran
Here is where we stand before I hand over to David Batty.Here is where we stand before I hand over to David Batty.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.09pm GMTat 4.09pm GMT
3.16pm GMT
15:16
Helen Pidd
Cumbria may have escaped the worst of Storm Frank too, our North of England editor reports.
The people of Cumbria breathed a cautious sigh of relief on Wednesday as strong winds prevented further flooding by blowing the rains of Storm Frank east out of the county.
Thousands of people had to move out of their homes after waters swept through their homes before Christmas, with flooded businesses losing key festive trade. Many had only just reopened when the latest storm hit the county.
Flood warnings were in place for parts of Cumbria on Wednesday, including Keswick in the north Lakes, where environment agency officials were nervously monitoring levels in the river Gretna all morning.
The A592 road by Lake Ullswater was closed due to flooding and stranded vehicles, cutting off Glenridding and Patterdale from one direction. After the road closure the only access to the villages, which were both badly affected by landslides and flooding in early December, was via the notoriously sketchy Kirkstone Pass, known locally as The Struggle, which has gradients of 25%.
“There hasn’t been as much rainfall as predicted yet the winds are strong and can be dangerous, so I would urge all motorists to be careful on the roads,” said Superintendent Mark Pannone, of Cumbria Constabulary.
3.10pm GMT
15:10
Lancashire seems to have got off lightly.
Thankfully, the worst of #StormFrank has missed Lancs & we've only had a handful of small incidents, our thoughts are with those affected
3.06pm GMT
15:06
Storm Frank has severely damaged the pier in Weston-Super-Mare. The grade II-listed pier - the only one in Britain to lead to an island - opened in 1867. It shut in 1994 and has since fallen into disrepair. Earlier this year members of the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust launched a campaign to save the pier. A trust spokesman said the north jetty had taken “a hell of a battering from Storm Frank” and collapsed overnight.
PICTURES: Pier in Weston-super-Mare collapses https://t.co/52kiUYflZU #Somerset #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/deaEgWyHv6
3.00pm GMT
15:00
2.23pm GMT
14:23
Libby Brooks
Watery scene from Glasgow.
Flooding in Kings Park Road #StormFrank https://t.co/0e6lRk7GFu
The Scottish government has held a second meeting of its resilience committee, with almost 100 flood warnings now in force across the country, with the risk of severe flooding in Dumfries & Galloway, writes our Scotland correspondent.
Rising river levels, flash floods and surface water are continuing to cause significant disruption to roads and rail networks whilst high winds have halted ferry services.
Police Scotland issued a stage three alert – for a high risk of disruption – for Dumfries & Galloway, Argyll and Central Scotland.
Vincent Fitzsimons, duty hydrology manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said that his main areas of concern were Dumfries and Galloway, the Western Borders, Tayside and Grampian and south Highland.
Fitzsimons warned that, although the worst rainfall is thought to have passed now, some rivers will take time to respond as water moves down from higher ground towards the sea, with areas like Callander, Perth, Deeside and Speyside continuing to see rising levels into Thursday.
He said that SEPA has issued a severe flood warning for the Whitesands area of Dumfries, while the situation elsewhere remains under review.
“More localised flooding, is expected to affect roads and farmland – maybe isolated properties – across large parts of central and southern Scotland, and into the north-east,” he said. “The worst of the rainfall has largely passed, but larger rivers will take some time to react as the water moves down towards the sea. Some are reacting now, but in areas like Dumfries the worst of the flooding is expected to co-incide with high tide mid-afternoon today. Rivers further east will take longer to respond. Areas like Callander, Perth, Deeside and Spey areas will continue to see rising levels throughout the day and some will not peak until the 31st.”
Updated
at 2.40pm GMT
2.22pm GMT
14:22
The rain has stopped in Keswick, Cumbria.
Glory be! It's stopped raining in Keswick. Catbells and Skiddaw appear once more. #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/NThwR3vmP7
2.16pm GMT
14:16
PwC: losses from recent storms could reach £3bn
Consultancy PwC has raised its estimate of insured losses from UK Storms Desmond and Eva to between £900m and £1.2bn from an earlier range of £700m to £1bn, Reuters reports.
Insurers are facing some of the costliest British floods on record following the two storms. A third storm, Frank, is currently hitting parts of Britain. PwC estimated total economic losses from the earlier storms at £1.6bn to £2.3bn, and said Storm Frank could take total losses above £3bn.
“The storms this time have generated a far greater proportion of non-insured losses compared to the total economic damage,” said Mohammad Khan, general insurance leader at PwC, in a statement.
2.07pm GMT
14:07
Henry McDonald
Our Ireland correspondent points out that the power situation is worse in Ireland.
The power supply picture is much grimmer across the border in the Irish Republic. More than 13,000 homes in the Republic are without electricity due to Storm Frank. Co. Cork has been particularly badly hit by the storms and floods. Around Bandon and Fermoy, the worst affected area, there 4,000 homes with out power whilst in Cobh on the Cork coastline 2,000 households have lost electricity supplies.
2.04pm GMT
14:04
Kevin Rawlinson
The Guardian is in Tadcaster, which is bracing for more bad weather a day after its bridge collapsed into the swollen river.
The environment secretary Liz Truss and Environment Agency (EA) staff visited the North Yorkshire town on Wednesday as the rain began to fall again, with the minister saying that repairing its stricken bridge was a “national priority”.
But some locals, who have spent much of the last week clearing up their town, said the authorities had turned up too late and accused them of seeking to grab the glory.
“They have turned up belatedly. We would have thought they would have had a sense of urgency,” said Tadcaster resident Mary Scott, who handed out tea and biscuits to the soldiers and other workers.
“They turn up and take the glory. It is too little, too late,” she said, adding that the authorities “should have shown up days ago”. Truss arrived in the town by car at about 1pm, flanked by staff, to meet the local Tory MP Nigel Adams.
The agency’s chairman Sir Philip Dilley, who has now returned from his holiday in Barbados and plans to visit Yorkshire on Wednesday, was not with her. The EA refused to say where exactly he would be going.
Truss and Adams walked down to the riverbank to see the damaged bridge and spoke to locals on the way. Many thanked her for coming as they filled sandbags. One resident, Angela Rooke, who said she had been coordinating the operation to clear up the town, asked Truss if a temporary footbridge could be installed to reconnect the now split town.
Speaking to the Guardian later, she bemoaned what she saw as inertia on the part of the authorities, saying the army should have been sent in to help earlier. Scott said the experience had brought the town together as a community.
“I hope the spirit stays positive, we have done so well,” she said, adding that many local shops had donated food for her to hand out.
Another resident, John Hasselgreen, was less positive. Despite the prime minister David Cameron’s insistence that the north of England had not received less funding than the south, he said he still wondered “what would have happened if it was in London”.
1.53pm GMT
13:53
Power restored to most homes in Northern Ireland
Henry McDonald
Our Ireland correspondent writes that power has now been restored to most homes in Northern Ireland which suffered breaks in supply due to Storm Frank.
Northern Ireland Electricity said up to 500 households are still without power since last night. Up to 40 roads across the region are either flooded or blocked by felled trees.
Meanwhile, a man and four children have had to be rescued from a car after it got swamped in flooding on a road in Co. Wicklow in the Irish Republic.
An Irish Fire service spokesman said the rescue happened after 11am at the Meeting of the Waters near Avoca. The converging waters from the Avonmore, Avonbeg and Avoca Rivers rose high enough to burst the banks and flood the road.
“One car got stuck and the water rose up to the windows so we were contacted to get them out safely,” a fire brigade spokesman said. “A fire tender and ambulance from Arklow were sent to the scene and all five were taken to safety from the car without any reports of injuries.”
The Irish Defence Forces have been deployed in Co. Cork where several major town centres are flooded. Soldiers have been used to rescue residents by boat from their homes in Middleton.
Updated
at 2.08pm GMT
1.46pm GMT
13:46
For the residents of Croston, Lancashire, these floods are deja vu. The village near Preston was hit by floods in 2012. Then - as now - there were accusations that flood defence had been affected by cuts in funding. This was how the Guardian covered the story at the time.
Related: Residents face devastation with neither flood defences nor respite from the rain
1.35pm GMT
13:35
Helen Pidd
Our North of England editor has sent this on the flood defences in Keswick, Cumbria.
On Keswick’s Greta Bridge, where millions were spent building up perspex defences following dreadful floods in 2009, environment agency officials were inspecting the water level on Wednesday. At lunchtime it was still a metre below the barriers, and the officials said they thought the river would not top them.
“Our modelling suggests it will be okay, but bear in mind that our models are a bit out at the moment, with all the silt and debris having clogged up the river in the last three weeks,” said one.
Two rescuers from the Royal Lifeboat Institution, one from Dover in the south-east and the other Redcar in the north-east, said they were being redeployed to southern Scotland.
As the rain continued to fall, builders were busy clearing out flood damaged properties on the bridge road. They have installed new electrics at head-height and are stripping out kitchens, floors and plasterwork ready for the drying stage.
Just up from Greta Bridge, the owners of Keswick Bikes were monitoring the river nervously. On 6 December the shop flooded for the first time in 25 years, and staff had spent the last few weeks selling off spoiled stock at super cheap prices, and making the ground floor “sacrificial”. They estimated they had lost up to £70,000 of stock during the floods.
“We have to accept that the shop will flood again, and so we have designed what we are calling the sacrificial part, which should only take a day to clear up. There will be a concrete floor with rubberised tiles you can unclip and wash and put back on,” said co-owner Amos Doron. “We don’t have the luxury of not trading, so we need to be back up and in business as soon as possible.”
Updated
at 1.36pm GMT
12.48pm GMT
12:48
Lancashire police believe the risk of further flooding from the river Douglas to homes in Croston remains low as water levels have reduced significantly.
The Environment Agency are working hard to repair the breach with assistance from the army. The Chinook helicopter is unable to return today (Wednesday 30th December) due to a technical issue but an alternative aircraft has been identified and is expected at Croston at approximately 12.30pm to continue to drop sandbags into the breach.
The worst case scenario is that there may be an overtop of 100mm at the bottom end of the breach later this afternoon, but if this does occur the land around the breach will refill for a period of around an hour either side of high tide – expected between 2pm and 3pm today. As water levels have reduced significantly and pumping continues throughout the coming days to remove water from this area, risk to further flooding to properties in Croston remains low.
12.38pm GMT
12:38
This shows thousands of river levels in the UK.
This is a useful resource in these soggy times. A live map of 3,000 river levels in the UK. https://t.co/DSiyba7fxl (via @floodalerts)
12.33pm GMT
12:33
Libby Brooks
Flooding on Glasgow's Great Western Road #StormFrank https://t.co/fLj2eX18Gc
The latest from our Scotland correspondent:
In Peebles in Scottish Borders, locals are expecting the river Tweed to burst its banks within the next hour. Police are continuing to stack sandbags around vulnerable properties and checking that residents have evacuated. A makeshift test centre has been set up in the burgh hall.
In Newton Stewart, where the river Cree earlier burst its banks, the power has been shut off after flooding at a local substation. The Scottish fire and rescue service has now deployed boats to ferry residents out of vulnerable waterfront properties.
Tyndrum in Perthshire topped the overnight UK rainfall charts, with 71.8mm over 12 hours, followed by 62.2mm in Cluanie Inn, Ross and Cromarty.
Updated
at 12.35pm GMT
12.29pm GMT
12:29
A man has been arrested on suspicion of theft after police issued a warning about people removing items from flooded properties, the South West News Service reports.
West Yorkshire police posted on their Facebook on Monday: “In order to ensure the safety of empty properties in the area additional police resources have been drafted in from other districts and areas. In addition to this several motor cycle clubs from the Bradford and surrounding areas have volunteered to patrol the area as extra eyes and ears on the ground.”
Now a 40-year-old man has been arrested in Mytholmroyd, West Yorks., on suspicion of theft, following a report from a member of the local community of suspicious activity around flooded properties.
12.22pm GMT
12:22
Lunchtime summary
Mark Tran
11.59am GMT
11:59
David Barnett
Jon Ronson, Ian Rankin and other authors have joined efforts to help a bookshop badly hit by the floods that have swept the north of England. The Book Case in the West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge was one of the businesses in the town wrecked when the town was hit by the severe rain battering the region.
Sam Missingham, head of events at publisher HarperCollins, and Yorkshire-based husband-and-wife author team Bob and Carol Bridgestock, who write crime fiction as RC Bridgestock, have been lobbying authors to provide signed copies of their books to sell in an auction to raise funds for the Book Case – and among those who responded to the call are romance author Marian Keyes, Rebus author Ian Rankin and journalist Jon Ronson.
Related: Leading authors join drive to help flood-hit Yorkshire bookshop
11.56am GMT
11:56
11.51am GMT
11:51
Ben Quinn
A council leader in one of the areas worst hit by flooding has renewed his claims that the Treasury “stone-walled” the release of emergency funds to help the north of England in a recent Cobra meeting, writes Ben Quinn. Here is an extract.
Richard Farrell, the leader Rochdale Council in Greater Manchester, claimed a row between the Treasury and the Department for Communities Local Government in a recent Downing Street crisis meeting delayed help being sent to the region.
He told the Guardian on Wednesday: “A senior local government official in Greater Manchester took part in a conference call of the Cobra committee and he was astounded at the argument between department of local government ministers who wanted to get immediate help to flood affected areas in Yorkshire and places like Rochdale, and the Treasury saying: ‘no, you can’t do that.. there is a process that has to be followed’.”
The Treasury official blocked any immediate help from being given. From Boxing Day we had been on to the DCLG to ask if we could go ahead with the scheme that was in place in Cumbria, and they were not able to sanction that, so we then started issuing £500 immediate emergency relief for householders, because some people had nothing but the clothes on their back after escaping from houses and needed cash help. It took the government four days after the floods to sanction those payments, so we took a risk getting those payments out immediately. They will now be covered, but the time it took the DCLG was four days of hell for people.”
The Treasury has flatly denied the suggestion on Chancellor George Osborne’s department had been delaying payments to local authorities.
A spokeswoman said: “These claims are completely untrue. The Treasury made clear days ago that it stands ready to provide equivalent support to that offered in previous floods, and to do so as quickly as possible. Indeed the first tranche of payments is being made to local authorities in affected areas today.”
Updated
at 11.52am GMT
11.38am GMT
11:38
Helen Pidd
The Guardian’s North of England editor is at a waterlogged rugby club in Cumbria and sends this report.
Keswick was open for business on Wednesday morning but locals were glum at the prospect of yet more flooding, just three weeks after Storm Desmond devastated the town. Up to 500 properties were flooded out in Keswick and nearby Braithwaite following record rainfall in early December.
At the rugby club near Derwentwater, volunteers had just finished repainting the club house ready for the annual new year’s day match against Penrith. “I don’t think there will be any rugby played this year,” said Iain Macpherson, the house and grounds manager, as he watched the pitch turn into a lake on Wednesday morning in the space of an hour.
Earlier in the month the club was inundated with more than a metre of water, which destroyed the floors, the electrics, the kitchen and kit including 300 rugby shirts. Mould now covers the ceiling of the two squash courts, the dumb bells in the gym rusty after their mucky submersion. Volunteers have spent the past three weeks shifting at least 1,100 tonnes of silt from the pitch, deposited unhelpfully by the river Greta when it breached its banks and rose above expensively installed flood defences.
“If the water comes in today that will be the third time in a month,” said Macpherson. “After the big flood at the start of the month, we had another smaller one, where a foot of water got in.”
On Wednesday fitters from the brewery, Jennings, were in putting the finishing touches to the new bar, as water from the pitch rose and lapped dangerously close to the club house.
“The New Year’s Day match is a big money spinner for us, so we need the event to go ahead,” said Macpherson.
The show would go on, he vowed: “Even if people are standing drinking pints in one, two-feet of water, they’ll be here.”
“As long as our mouths are above water, there will be drinking,” promised Richard Atkinson, a committee member, suggesting to another man that they switch from rugby to rowing.
Updated
at 11.47am GMT
11.06am GMT
11:06
Libby Brooks
As of 10.30am, there are now 71 flood warnings (where flooding is expected and immediate action required) in Scotland.
About 300 homes are currently being evacuated in Hawick in the Borders, and the local council is considering similar action in nearby Peebles. In Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, where residents were evacuated overnight, the river Cree has now burst its banks with flooding affecting a number of waterfront properties
Meanwhile, a number of roads have been closed due to landslips, with 40 to 50 tonnes of debris reported on A83 Rest and Be Thankful road and the A85 Glen Ogle, Stirlingshire are also shut. There are reports of major flooding to the west of Glasgow, in Greenock and Port Glasgow, as well in parts of Ayrshire.
Updated
at 11.38am GMT
10.52am GMT
10:52
The EA now has three severe flood warnings (danger to life), all for Croston, Lancashire. There are also 46 flood warnings (flooding expected, immediate action required.
10:30 update.3 severe,46 warnings & 75 alerts in England. Get latest #flood info https://t.co/BpUpnj1mdd #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/qM8bMyTr04
10.45am GMT
10:45
Damien Gayle
Fresh from his sunshine holiday in Barbados, the chairman of the Environment Agency had little time to gather his things this morning before heading to meet flood victims in England’s sodden north.
Sir Philip Dilley spent less than an hour with an aide collecting a few personal items from his flat in an Edwardian mansion block in Marylebone, London, amid fury that he was sunning himself while thousands of Britons fought floods.
Asked if he had a good Christmas, the 60-year-old - who was described by the Press Association as noticeably tanned - dodged the question. Instead he told reporters he was on his way to visit Yorkshire and would be “very happy to speak” with people when he got there.
A former executive chairman of the engineering consultancy Arup, Dilley now earns £100,000 a year for working two to three days a week with the government. Shortly after becoming chair in September, he promised to visit any serious flooding in the UK while he was at the helm.
Asked if he should have visited the worst affected areas sooner, he said: “Well I’m going up there today, as you appreciate. My focus really is to go and see what’s happening, to see the good work that’s been going on but most importantly to see the communities who have been affected.”
He insisted he had been “in very close contact” with senior EA staff throughout his break, spent at his holiday home. Pictures showed the property, near the five-star Sandy Lane resort, basking under blue skies and surrounded by verdant, tropical foliage.
Dilley’s return to the UK comes after criticism over his decision to holiday in Barbados at a time when the country faces some of the worst floods it has experienced in decades. He had previously told MPs he would work “six days a week or seven” in times of crisis.
Updated
at 11.40am GMT
10.28am GMT
10:28
Keswick rugby club - waterlogged.
Keswick rugby club - usually glorious views of Skiddaw in the background. Today, again, a lake. https://t.co/fHBlWxF4SG
10.11am GMT
10:11
The Met Office has this satellite animation of Storm Frank.
Satellite animation showing #StormFrank. Stay #WeatherAware with the latest warning info at https://t.co/ziqeF8z3D4 https://t.co/eYnEtIPcLP
9.57am GMT
09:57
Environment head to meet flood victims
Sir Philip Dilley, the head of the Environment Agency, is due to meet people affected by the floods today. He had been under fire for holidaying in Barbados, while communities in York and elsewhere were cleaning up after the Boxing Day floods. This is from the Press Association.
Dilley spoke briefly to reporters as he collected a few personal items from his flat in an Edwardian mansion block in the Marylebone area of London.
Asked if he had a good Christmas, while swathes of the country were battling against devastating flood waters, Dilley said he was visiting Yorkshire today and would be “very happy to speak” with people when he got there.
His return to the UK comes after criticism over his decision to holiday in Barbados at a time when the country faces some of the worst floods it has experienced in decades.
The Environment Agency released a statement saying he had spent Christmas with his family on the Caribbean island, but would be back soon.
A spokesman said Dilley had been in “regular contact” with the body regarding its response to the current situation. He added: “He has been in Barbados with his family. We are expecting him back in the UK in the next 24 hours and an early priority will be to visit those who have been affected by the flooding in the north of the country.”
Updated
at 10.08am GMT
9.49am GMT
09:49
The authorities n Keswick, Cumbria, are getting ready for possible flooding.
The River Greta in Keswick is rising. Council has set up a pump on Penrith Road in case it floods. https://t.co/F8bB4J9KbA
9.44am GMT
09:44
The Environment Agency has four severe flood warnings (danger to life) - one for the north-east (the river Wharfe at Tadcaster) and three for the north-west (the river Yarrow and three areas of Croston).
9.37am GMT
09:37
Kevin Rawlinson
This shows the worst flood warnings in the York and Tadcaster area.
9.32am GMT
09:32
Henry McDonald
Nine thousand homes are without power in Northern Ireland after Storm Frank felled trees and knocked out power lines overnight in counties Fermanagh and Down.
Gales of up to almost 80 mph were so strong that at least four passenger planes were left stranded on the tarmac of Belfast International Airport’s runway for hours. Conditions were so bad at the airport that ground crews were unable to attend to one plane that had landed from Gatwick last night and passengers were left waiting to disembark for four hours.
Defending their decision to keep passengers on the plane for so long Brian Carlin, commercial director at Belfast International Airport, said the wind speed was higher than the limit for opening the aircraft doors safely.
“You have to put the steps out, and when the wind’s blowing around that’s very difficult to do,” he added. “We’ve taken one diversion from City, we’ve taken one from Dublin and we’ve also sent one to Dublin. It just depends where the high winds are at that time as to whether someone can get in or not.”
He said the disruption would have a knock-on effect on other departures and urged travellers to check before leaving home.
The winds even felled the Christmas tree in the centre of the Co.Down coastal village of Portaferry. At least 20 trees across the region were lying this morning along rural roads while bridges across the river Foyle in Derry have been closed to pedestrians.
Meanwhile almost 4,000 homes were without power in the Irish Republic as trees also knocked down power lines in the south and west of the country where there is also widespread flooding particularly in Co.Cork.
Most ferries between Britain and the Republic have been cancelled today with Met Eireann predicting a “sting in the tail” for a smaller storm hitting the Irish coast later today.
Updated
at 11.40am GMT
9.25am GMT
09:25
Many roads are closed in Shap, Cumbria, a region at risk of further flooding, after being hit twice in recent weeks.
Shap in Cumbria pretty minging today. Lots of road closures in place: bits of the a6, a5091 at Troutbeck. pic.twitter.com/Ktzl79NnJI
9.18am GMT
09:18
The Irish Daily Mirror is reporting that up to 3,800 homes remain without power.
Storm Frank LIVE UPDATES as thousands still without power and roads flooded across the country #StormFrank https://t.co/ySUrSP0cq9
In the north-east, more 1,000 homes are without electricity.
More than a thousand North-east homes remain without power https://t.co/wLSCbNJW8m #StormFrank
In Scotland, more than 5,000 homes are without power.
More than 5,000 homes are without power in Scotland as gale-force winds and heavy rain from Storm Frank hit the country
9.08am GMT
09:08
David Shukman, the BBC’s science editor, outlines the dilemmas confronting any government when it comes to allocating resources for flood defences. Here is an extract.
At its simplest are decisions about the scale of government funding - whether the £2.3bn allocated by the government over a six-year period is enough and, crucially, where to spend the money.
The longstanding Treasury rule is that for every £1 devoted to flood defence, there must be an economic benefit of at least £8 - a principle which is designed to make saving homes the priority. So cities, with their dense populations, will attract more than rural areas with fewer people, which is why London gets the best protection of all, and tiny villages the least.
To help places that might not qualify, the government encourages “partnership funding”, another source of cash from local authorities, business groups or communities - but raising it has never been easy. Last year in Norfolk, along a shoreline vulnerable to flooding, I sensed a lot of reluctance among local people to the idea of contributing towards the cost of their own defences.
And if one place wins protection, other communities downstream will clamour for help too. The Jubilee River, an artificial channel, was dug to help Maidenhead and Windsor but has long been criticised by residents of Wraysbury who say it has made them more vulnerable to flooding.
The challenge is that flood defence can never be seen in isolation.
8.52am GMT
08:52
Tracking Storm Frank.
Heavy rain and strong winds will move east today. Here's where it'll be at 9am and 3pm... pic.twitter.com/gGkUPgU0eG
Meanwhile, it’s positively balmy at the North Pole.
Bit warm at the North Pole! Thanks to #StormFrank the temp is a very rare +1°C compared to the average -28°C... pic.twitter.com/pZi5y4kZCi
8.46am GMT
08:46
Mark Tran
A senior UN official has urged governments to take more preventive action to reduce human and economic losses from weather-related disasters.
“Prevention measures including upgrading early warning systems to deal with the new climate variability, revising building codes to ensure more resilience of critical infrastructure such as schools, hospital and roads, and more investment in flood defences are critical to protect more people against disaster impacts,” said Margareta Wahlström, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
“We have no time to lose as weather-related disasters continue to increase, affecting millions of people.”
The UN cited extreme tornadoes in the US over Christmas, abnormal snowfalls in Mexico, and heavy flooding in South America and the UK. Over the weekend, tornadoes and storms killed more than 20 people in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, and flattened hundreds of buildings and houses. In Latin America the worst floods in the past 10 years, forced more than 170,000 people to evacuate in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
“More people are at risk due to increased urbanisation,” Wahlström said. “Reducing spatial density of single family housing and increasing the resilience of houses against heavier wind load can reduce tornado impacts.”
“The abnormal flooding is consistent with the prediction made by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) last November. We cannot ignore science. Their findings need to be better included in long-term policies,” Wahlström added.
Last month, WMO warned that the majority of international climate outlook models indicated that the 2015-16 El Niño weather phenomenon was set to strengthen before the end of the year, causing more flooding and more droughts, setting it among the three strongest since 1950.
“The repetitive floods in the UK and unusual snowstorms in Mexico are alerting the world about how difficult it is to predict global warming impacts and climate change,” Wahlström said.
Updated
at 11.41am GMT
8.33am GMT
08:33
This is video of the Glencar waterfall in Formoyle, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.
#WATCH - Storm Frank: Waterfall stream flows upwards due to extreme winds https://t.co/Nca3sO66kY pic.twitter.com/D0O94a6nu2
8.25am GMT
08:25
8.13am GMT
08:13
Claire Phipps
Libby Brooks sends more updates from Scotland, where the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency confirmed at 8am that there are 14 regional flood alerts and 62 more specific flood warnings across Scotland.
But the agency also warned that the weather situation across the country was “still very much deteriorating” as the rain continues, with swollen rivers including the Nith in Dumfries and Galloway not expected to reach their peak until 3pm this afternoon or the Tay later this evening.
River Nith in Dumfries has risen over the past couple of hours. Potential record height later pic.twitter.com/x2xRnx9UhQ
Scottish Southern Electricity has confirmed that 5,500 homes are currently without power across the north-east, Argyll and the Inner Hebrides, with engineers hampered overnight by winds of up to 90mph (145kph).
I’m handing over this live blog now to my colleague Mark Tran, who’ll continue to bring you live updates as Storm Frank makes its way across the British Isles.
7.54am GMT
07:54
Libby Brooks
Many ferry services are cancelled across the west coast of Scotland this morning, as yellow rain warnings remain in place. Police Scotland have issued a stage two “drive with caution” warning, as early morning drivers face surface water on main roads as well as reports of fallen trees across Aberdeenshire.
Around 11pm on Tuesday, a 74mph (119kph) wind gust was measured in Benbecula, in the Outer Hebrides.
A yellow alert for strong winds was issued for much of Scotland, with forecasters predicting winds up to 80mph (129kph) in exposed areas across the western coast of the mainland and the islands.
The coastguard advised vessel owners to think twice before sailing during the storms.
The Dumfries and Galloway major emergency scheme was officially activated at 6am this morning, with reports of flooding near Castle Douglas as well as concerns that the River Nith may burst its banks.
The River Nith in Dumfries is looking a bit wild #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/S1T1PsBLlG
Some residents have already been evacuated in Newton Stewart, as the River Cree also threatens to burst its banks.
By 7pm on Tuesday evening, the Skye bridge on Scotland’s west coast and the Dornoch bridge on the east coast near Tain were closed to high-sided vehicles. The Tay bridge on the east coast was closed to double decker buses and huge waves were pictured crashing against Aberdeen’s harbour walls.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 50 flood warnings and 14 flood alerts for Angus, Dundee, Tayside and Dumfries, and in the Scottish Borders, the local council held a series of emergency planning meetings making particular provision for the Peebles and Upper Tweed areas.
An extra 10,000 sandbags were filled to combat what is expected to be widespread significant flooding, particularly in Dumfries & Galloway and western parts of the Borders.
But the extreme weather is expected to clear in time for Thursday’s Hogmanay celebrations, when tens of thousands of visitors will attend events in Edinburgh.
(A reader has pointed out that the Dornoch bridge is on Scotland’s east coast - not on the west. This has been corrected.)
Updated
at 10.06am GMT
7.49am GMT
07:49
According to the Met Office, December is set to be Britain’s mildest since records began in 1910 – in England, more than 5C above the long-term average.
But for some parts of the UK – Cumbria, Lancashire and Wales – it will also have been the rainiest December on record.
As my colleague Tim Radford explains:
The problem in parts of northern England has been the sheer accumulation of water. If the rain falls on soil that is already soaked, then it will run across the surface, downhill and towards the rivers.
Read more here:
Related: Mildest December since UK records began means more rain – and more pain
7.43am GMT
07:43
Helen Pidd
The Guardian’s North of England editor is currently in Morecambe, in north Lancashire, and sends this report:
It’s very windy on the coast in the north-west of England this morning but little of the forecast rain has hit the region – yet.
Gales over over 30mph (48kph) woke me up at my parents’ house near Morecambe, with the Met Office forecasting winds of over 50mph (80kph) in the area from 8am.
Unsurprisingly, it’s the wind which seems so far to be causing the problems.
The A5091 is closed in both directions between the A66 junction in Troutbeck and the A592 in Dockray because of a fallen tree – that’s one of the main routes to reach the villages of Glenridding and Paterdale on Lake Ullswater, which were hit so badly by floods and landslides a few weeks ago.
On the trains, travelling between Carlisle and Edinburgh and Glasgow will be tricky this morning following damage to overhead electric wires between Curriehill and Kirknewton.
No CrossCountry or First TransPennine Express trains will run between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and Virgin train services between London Euston and Edinburgh will be diverted, with journey times delayed by up to 40 minutes.
7.23am GMT
07:23
Latest summary
Claire Phipps
A recap of the overnight and early Wednesday morning developments as Storm Frank makes its way across the British Isles:
Updated
at 7.32am GMT
7.08am GMT
07:08
Dumfries and Galloway has activated its major emergency scheme in anticipation of flooding that Sepa (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) says “is going to be as high as they have ever recorded”.
Newton Stewart, in south-west Scotland, is being evacuated; and Dumfries and Galloway council warns that residents of Heck, Hightae and Greenhills will be cut off from the public road network due to flooding of the river Annan – which it says is likely to peak between 8am and 9am.
6.47am GMT
06:47
The centre of Storm Frank is currently over Iceland – the British Isles are experiencing the not inconsiderable effects of its trailing winds and rains – and the weather warnings there are even more severe.
South-east Iceland can expect winds of storm force 10 up to hurricane force 12 (“pretty rare”, according to meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker), with the shipping forecast warning that the sea state is expected to be “very high or phenomenal, becoming very rough or high later”.
Centre of #StormFrank is right over Iceland but it's the trailing weather fronts bringing the UK severe weather 💦💨 pic.twitter.com/xllahIRIpO
6.35am GMT
06:35
Party-goers travelling by train over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day face delays and disruption thanks to the double whammy of ongoing storms and engineering works.
Network Rail says it has embarked on “one of the biggest Christmas and New Year investment programmes ever carried out on Britain’s rail network”.
But travellers will not be thrilled to hear that engineering works, combined with continuing bad weather from Storm Frank, are expected to affect some journeys.
Related: New Year's Eve travel chaos looms amid engineering work and storms
6.16am GMT
06:16
Ireland has already witnessed several hours of strong winds and heavy downpours.
Midleton, in County Cork, saw flooding:
Midleton under water tonight #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/w4mFzWnW2s
As did Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny:
Photos from Mark Bolger in Graiguenamanagh tonight where Main Street has flooded #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/LCSqEs3rBQ
Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, said Wednesday morning remained “extremely windy”, although winds and rain were expected to ease later.
6.08am GMT
06:08
Police Scotland has issued a “travel with caution” alert for the whole of Scotland for today, warning that conditions are likely to be hazardous:
If you are travelling, you should ensure you and your vehicle are adequately prepared for the conditions, making sure you have sufficient fuel and supplies such as warm clothing, food and water in the event you are delayed for several hours.
Charge your mobile phone and plan your route as well as alternative routes.
5.59am GMT
05:59
These images from BBC Weather show how Storm Frank has moved in from the south-west, first of all hitting Ireland and Northern Ireland overnight on Tuesday-into-Wednesday:
RADAR: Extent of rain across the UK at 3am. Weather front heading to Wales and England now... #StormFrank Tomasz S pic.twitter.com/yBzRG8D1bk
Then sweeping up through the west and north of England and Scotland – and across Wales – this morning:
Forecast for 8am - rain and gales sweeping western Britain. Dangerous waves around coasts. Tomasz S pic.twitter.com/0KyKb3qgku
5.33am GMT
05:33
Opening summary
Claire Phipps
Hot on the heels of Storms Desmond and Eva, which prompted mass flooding, especially across the north of England, Storm Frank is lashing the British Isles on Wednesday, bringing with it more rain and gale-force winds.
Here’s a round-up of what’s happened so far overnight, and what’s expected throughout the day:
Updated
at 5.39am GMT