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Severe weather brings flood risk Severe weather brings flood risk
(10 minutes later)
Severe wind and rain has brought chaos to parts of the UK and sparked a series major flood alerts from the Met Office. Severe wind and rain has brought chaos to parts of the UK and sparked a series major flood alerts across the country.
Eastern England has been one of the worst hit areas with rivers bursting their banks in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.Eastern England has been one of the worst hit areas with rivers bursting their banks in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
Southeastern Railways, Southern Railways and South West Trains all reported trees falling onto lines across their networks.Southeastern Railways, Southern Railways and South West Trains all reported trees falling onto lines across their networks.
The bad weather is set to continue throughout the day, forecasters said.The bad weather is set to continue throughout the day, forecasters said.
A Met Office forecaster said severe weather warnings had been in place across the country. The Environment Agency has issued 41 flood warnings across the country so far in areas where it expects homes and businesses to be flooded.
She said: "There have been strong gusts quite widely. Pretty much all of Scotland has had, or currently has, warnings." Heavy rains
She said it would remain extremely windy on Thursday but the stronger gusts would die down. A spokesman said the areas they were most concerned about were the River Severn in Shropshire and the River Ouse in York.
"At the moment we have a mean average speed of 30-35mph," she said. "With all the rainfall recently everywhere is saturated and rivers are very sensitive to more rain at the moment," the spokesman said.
"The gusts of 50-60mph have been causing problems." A Met Office forecaster said heavy rain and gale force winds would batter much of the country into the afternoon before easing off and returning overnight.
He said: "There have been winds of 70mph in the north west of Scotland and south Wales. Scotland and central England are experiencing heavy rains.
"The rain should move away from southern England and ease off elsewhere throughout the day.
"But heavy rains will return in northern England and Scotland overnight."
Have you been affected by the bad weather? Send us your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by the bad weather? Send us your experiences using the form below:
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There are winds close to my work of the 50-60mph scale. I work quite close to the rive Humber and walking past it half an hour ago I was almost blown across the road! Zack Taylor, Hull
It was pretty hairy commuting in today. Roads are rivers on the way out of Sheffield on the A57, with water halfway up the wheels regularly. I just wish people wouldn't drive towards me on my side of the road rather than go through some water! Which is worse: A head on collision or a wet car? Sam, Sheffield
I picked the wrong day to try out my new wet weather bicycle gear on the ride into work. I nearly got blown off the Taff Trail and into the Taff itself!Essex Havard, Cardiff, Wales
The area round our village has become almost impassable due to flooded roads, the fields are lakes, and the electricity was off most of yesterday due to storm damage. But as we are Thames Water customers, we still have a hosepipe ban. Peter, Swindon, UK
I have been a London pushbike courier for two years and have never known the wind to be so powerful. Normally I can cycle at 15/20mph but this wind is like cycling with Mike Tyson on my back. Earlier I saw a whole row of scooters felled by the wind outside Tate Britain. Barry Parker-Meehan, London
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