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Floods close the M5 in Midlands – but Britain still set for sunny bank holiday Man dies after vehicle submerged in flood water in Walsall
(about 4 hours later)
Parts of Britain could enjoy the hottest day of the year so far on Monday as the humid weather that sparked thunderstorms, flash floods and traffic chaos in the Midlands on Sunday looked set to continue. A man in his 80s has died after his vehicle was submerged during flash flooding on a day of extreme and varied weather across the UK.
The equivalent of a month’s rain fell in one hour in parts of the Midlands, leaving a submerged stretch of the M5 and other roads closed. Vehicles were left swamped in flood water up to 1.5m (5ft) deep. Police were called to Rushall in Walsall just after 2am on Monday to reports that a vehicle had entered the water. The victim was taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later.
One person was taken to hospital overnight on Sunday after they were rescued from the roof of a car submerged in floodwater by ambulance workers who swam to their aid, officials said. Officers urged people travelling over bank holiday weekend to take care across the West Midlands, with parts of Birmingham facing flash flooding after more than a month’s rainfall in an hour. But other areas of England were looking forward to the hottest day of the year so far.
The Met Office said 58.6mm (2.3in fell in 60 minutes in Edgbaston and 81mm in a 12-hour period. The Met issued a yellow weather warning for the region, meaning there could be “danger to life”. Storms across the Midlands on Sunday left a stretch of the M5 submerged and other roads closed. Vehicles were swamped by flood water up to 1.5 metres (5ft) deep.
The monthly average for the West Midlands in May is 55mm, meteorologist Craig Snell said. But he said the torrential rain had been “very localised”. The Met Office said 58.6mm of rain fell in 60 minutes in Edgbaston, and 81mm came down in a 12-hour period. It issued a yellow weather warning for the region, meaning there could be “danger to life”.
The heavy downpours could continue for some on Monday, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place as thunderstorms roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire overnight. The monthly average for the West Midlands in May is 55mm, said Craig Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office. But he said the torrential rain had been “very localised”.
A yellow weather warning for rain was also in place from Monday afternoon for large areas of East Anglia, the south-East including London, the south-west and Wales. Heavy downpours could continue for some areas on Monday, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place as thunderstorms roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
However, any rain appeared set to be preceded by temperatures up to 28C or 29C in the south-east, potentially surpassing the 2018 record of 29.1C on 19 April in central London. A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place from Monday afternoon for large parts of East Anglia, the south-east, including London, the south-west and Wales.
“It all depends how much cloud develops,” Snell said. “There’s a chance we could see the warmest day of the year. It will be quite widely into the 20s across many parts of the UK. For a bank holiday Monday, it’s not looking too bad. The Met Office has serious flood warnings in place for Coleshill in Warwickshire, Penkridge in Staffordshire, and Acton Bridge and Somerford in Cheshire. Forty-three less serious flood alerts remain in place for a swath of central England.
“Further thundery downpours might appear in the late afternoon – not everyone will see them but if you do see one they could be quite nasty. Meanwhile, temperatures of up to 29C (84F) are expected in the south-east, potentially surpassing the record for this year of 29.1C on 19 April in central London.
Scotland would see the most prolonged sunshine, he said, but most areas would start dry and cloud cover quickly burn off. Snell said: “It all depends how much cloud develops. There’s a chance we could see the warmest day of the year. It will be quite widely into the 20s across many parts of the UK. For a bank holiday Monday, it’s not looking too bad.
On Sunday, Highways England was forced to close part of the M5 between Halesowen and Oldbury, and parts of the M42 and M6 were subject to lane and exit closures. “Further thundery downpours might appear in the late afternoon – not everyone will see them, but if you do see one, they could be quite nasty.
West Midlands police advised people to avoid driving in Birmingham: “Please try to avoid the following areas due to floods and road closures. Pershore Road at Oakfield Road, Selly Oak – reports of water 5ft deep. Road being closed and bus passengers being evacuated.” Scotland would have the most prolonged sunshine, he said, but most areas would start dry, and cloud cover would quickly burn off.
On Sunday, Highways England was forced to shut part of the M5 between Halesowen and Oldbury, and parts of the M42 and M6 were subject to lane and exit closures.
West Midlands police advised people to avoid driving in Birmingham. “Please try to avoid the following areas due to floods and road closures. Pershore Road at Oakfield Road, Selly Oak – reports of water 5ft deep. Road being closed and bus passengers being evacuated,” the force said.
Lots of flash flooding around the midlands this evening.If a road is flooded don’t drive down it, don’t let your stupidity or ignorance of the road conditions be a reason our colleagues @WestMidsFire @OFFICIALWMAS and @WMPolice have to come and rescue you! #DriveToArriveLots of flash flooding around the midlands this evening.If a road is flooded don’t drive down it, don’t let your stupidity or ignorance of the road conditions be a reason our colleagues @WestMidsFire @OFFICIALWMAS and @WMPolice have to come and rescue you! #DriveToArrive
Some train services operated by CrossCountry were disrupted when severe weather caused signalling problems near Birmingham New Street. Some rail services operated by CrossCountry were disrupted when severe weather caused signalling problems near Birmingham New Street.
The University of Birmingham had to close its main sports and fitness centre due to flooding and several houses were reportedly deluged by water. Birmingham University had to close its main sport and fitness centre due to flooding, and several houses were reportedly deluged.
Images on social media showed people wading through water to push stranded cars and there were reports of wheelie bins floating down roads. Images on social media showed people wading through water to push stranded cars, and there were reports of wheelie bins floating down roads.
A total of 47 flood alerts were issued for other areas across the UK.
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