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Floods in UK: Travel disrupted as storms head north Floods in UK: Travel disrupted as storms head north
(35 minutes later)
Heavy rain and flooding are disrupting parts of the road and rail network as storms are set to move on to north-east England and north Wales. Heavy rain and flooding are disrupting parts of the road and rail network as storms move on to north-east England and north Wales.
Closures, delays and safety warnings are affecting dozens of A-roads, while cancellations and delays have also hit some national rail services.Closures, delays and safety warnings are affecting dozens of A-roads, while cancellations and delays have also hit some national rail services.
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are in place in England and Wales. About 200 flood warnings and 300 alerts are in force in England and Wales.
The environment secretary urged people to keep up to date with flood warnings to avoid "terrible tragedies".
Some 800 homes, mainly in south-west England, were flooded at the weekend, and two people died in the storms.Some 800 homes, mainly in south-west England, were flooded at the weekend, and two people died in the storms.
Devon and Cornwall were particularly badly hit, along with Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Kempsey in Worcestershire. Devon and Cornwall were particularly badly hit, along with Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Kempsey in Worcestershire - where a new £1.5 million flood defence project broke down after an electrical problem.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, visiting Exeter where the river Exe burst its banks, said: "It's a bit hard to focus on one failure when we've had a very large number of schemes working successfully over the past few days and which will continue to work as this wet weather comes in over the coming few days.
"But I think I would ask everyone to work together - work with the Environment Agency, look at the website, so you can get warned, because I am worried some of these terrible tragedies we've had could have been avoided if people had kept themselves up to date with the information we're putting up."
Chris Fawkes, from the BBC Weather Centre, said there had been about 60mm (2.5in) of rain in south-west England over the weekend.Chris Fawkes, from the BBC Weather Centre, said there had been about 60mm (2.5in) of rain in south-west England over the weekend.
He said: "A weather front will slowly move across north England and north Wales on Monday, and it's here that we are likely to see some further serious flooding."He said: "A weather front will slowly move across north England and north Wales on Monday, and it's here that we are likely to see some further serious flooding."
South-west England continued to suffer considerable disruption to rail services on Monday, while flooding also caused delays on the following routes: between Durham and York; between Derby and Nottingham/Loughborough; between Shrewsbury and Craven Arms; and between Bangor and Holyhead.South-west England continued to suffer considerable disruption to rail services on Monday, while flooding also caused delays on the following routes: between Durham and York; between Derby and Nottingham/Loughborough; between Shrewsbury and Craven Arms; and between Bangor and Holyhead.
A landslip near Dorking, Surrey, has also disrupted services between London and Horsham, West Sussex.A landslip near Dorking, Surrey, has also disrupted services between London and Horsham, West Sussex.
On the roads, some of the worst-hit areas have been in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.On the roads, some of the worst-hit areas have been in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.
The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" weather warnings for 50-70mm (2-3in) of rain in north-east England and Yorkshire and Humber regions. A further amber alert for north Wales warned there could be more than 90mm (3.5in) of rain on high ground. The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" weather warnings for 50-70mm (2-3in) of rain in north-east England and Yorkshire and Humber regions.
The href="http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx" >Environment Agency has issued 196 flood warnings across England and Wales, which mean people should take action because flooding is expected. There are also 292 less severe flood alerts - indicating people should prepare for possible flooding. The River Ouse has burst its banks in York, flooding riverside buildings in the city centre. One pub was engulfed by a metre of water.
A further amber alert for north Wales warned there could be more than 90mm (3.5in) of rain on high ground.
The Environment Agency has issued 191 flood warnings across England and Wales, which mean people should take action because flooding is expected. There are also 293 less severe flood alerts - indicating people should prepare for possible flooding.
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County Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and the Conwy area of north Wales are expected to be worst affected.County Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and the Conwy area of north Wales are expected to be worst affected.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Sepa, has two flood alerts in place in the Borders and Edinburgh and Lothians regions. There are none in Northern Ireland.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Sepa, has two flood alerts in place in the Borders and Edinburgh and Lothians regions. There are none in Northern Ireland.
Heavy rain and the related risk of flooding are forecast to continue until late on Tuesday.Heavy rain and the related risk of flooding are forecast to continue until late on Tuesday.
'Shocking scenes''Shocking scenes'
In developments around the country:In developments around the country:
On Twitter, the prime minister has talked of "shocking scenes of flooding".
David Cameron also said the government "will help ensure everything is being done to help".
Environment minister Richard Benyon has said he is "impressed with how the emergency services and Environment Agency have responded" to wet weather.Environment minister Richard Benyon has said he is "impressed with how the emergency services and Environment Agency have responded" to wet weather.
"What we learned from the floods in 2007 has been invaluable and what local authorities are doing ... working with the Environment Agency, with the emergency services, is certainly improving the situation - but if your house is flooded it feels pretty bleak," he said. He is due to make a statement to the House of Commons on the flooding at 17:30 GMT.
"What we learned from the floods in 2007 has been invaluable and what local authorities are doing... working with the Environment Agency, with the emergency services, is certainly improving the situation - but if your house is flooded it feels pretty bleak," he said.
The minister added: "We are better prepared, but no-one is taking away from the misery that these floods have caused or the threat of further floods. You can only feel sorry for those people.The minister added: "We are better prepared, but no-one is taking away from the misery that these floods have caused or the threat of further floods. You can only feel sorry for those people.
"Our estimate is that about 20,000 homes have been protected by flood defences that have built in the past few years.""Our estimate is that about 20,000 homes have been protected by flood defences that have built in the past few years."
But Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay, said the events of the last two days "should be a wake-up call for a government that needs to grip this issue and do so quickly".But Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay, said the events of the last two days "should be a wake-up call for a government that needs to grip this issue and do so quickly".
"We know that flash flooding is increasing because of climate change and there's now little we can do to stop it, but the government must act to make sure people aren't left without insurance when the worst does happen," he said."We know that flash flooding is increasing because of climate change and there's now little we can do to stop it, but the government must act to make sure people aren't left without insurance when the worst does happen," he said.
To access more information, from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.To access more information, from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
Has your area been affected by the flooding? Have you been affected by travel delays? Send us your comments using the form below.Has your area been affected by the flooding? Have you been affected by travel delays? Send us your comments using the form below.
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