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From frosts to floods – UK prepares for stormy weather From frosts to floods – UK prepares for stormy weather
(about 1 hour later)
Britain is on flood alert as high winds and heavy rainfall begin to sweep in from the south-west. Parts of Britain are on flood alert yet again after heavy rain and strong winds swept the country.
The Environment Agency has warned residents, many of whom are still mopping up after last month's widespread flooding, to brace themselves for a combination of heavy rain and storm surges. The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for the south-west and much of the north of England, together with areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Thirteen flood warnings have been issued across south-west England and Wales, where 20-30mm of rain is expected to fall over the next 24 hours, while a further 47 areas across Scotland, England and Wales have been told to prepare for possible flooding. By Friday morning, the Environment Agency had issued 14 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected. Nine of them were in the south-west, two in Wales and three in the south-east. More than 60 alerts – flooding possible – had also been issued.
Wales will be among the worst hit areas on Friday, with the wet weather expected to coincide with a day trip to the country by the Prince of Wales. His tour is due to include a visit to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, in Carmarthen, an area subject to a flood warning where more than an inch of rain is forecast. The Met Office said the heaviest rain overnight fell on Devon and Cornwall with 15mm drenching Plymouth and 14mm hitting Bodmin. Winds of almost 60mph (95kph) were recorded at Berry Head in Devon and 40mph gusts blasted Portland in Dorset.
The Environment Agency has also issued a flood alert near Swansea and Port Talbot, where Charles is due to make his first stops. Even stronger winds were predicted later on Friday – up to 80mph in Orkney, northern Scotland, and 50mph gusts across much of the country. Blizzards could also cause problems on higher ground.
The ground in parts of south and west Wales remains saturated from last month's heavy rainfall, the agency said. The Environment Agency is concerned that areas where the ground remains saturated after last month's downpours are at particular risk of flooding. But it is also worried that coastal areas could flood because the latest deluge is coinciding with high tides.
High winds of up to 95kph (60mph) will affect much of the UK, reaching up to 115kph in north-east Scotland.
Gareth Harvey, a meteorologist for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "A band of heavy rain is going to move through the south-west of England, with much of the UK affected by it.
"It will sweep north-eastwards throughout the day and cause localised flooding in some areas which will get up to 30mm of rain in 24 hours. It will be a very wet and windy day before it starts to clear."
The public have been advised to stay away from seafronts, quaysides and jetties along the south coast to avoid powerful waves.
Nick Roseveare, of the Environment Agency, said: "We are keeping a close eye on conditions around our coastline and will issue flood warnings if the risk of flooding increases.Nick Roseveare, of the Environment Agency, said: "We are keeping a close eye on conditions around our coastline and will issue flood warnings if the risk of flooding increases.
"The critical periods will be the early morning tides over the next three days. If they coincide with rain, there's a risk of tide-locking, where water is held in rain-swollen rivers and cannot escape into the sea because of the high tides. This could result in localised flooding.""The critical periods will be the early morning tides over the next three days. If they coincide with rain, there's a risk of tide-locking, where water is held in rain-swollen rivers and cannot escape into the sea because of the high tides. This could result in localised flooding."
Those in areas of risk have been urged to check the Environment Agency's website and Twitter feed for the latest updates, or to call the floodline on 0845 988 1188. People have been advised to stay away from seafronts, quaysides and jetties along the south coast to avoid powerful waves.
In West Yorkshire, road users were warned to take extra care after black ice caused a high number of collisions. Among the areas subject to flood warnings were some seafront properties in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, Poole harbour in Dorset, and estuaries in south Devon. Part of Kingsbridge town centre, in south Devon, was flooded at high tide on Friday morning. There was also more misery for some residents on the Somerset Levels, which have been hit by a series of floods this year.
The weather was causing disruption on the county's motorway network, including the closure of sections of the M1 and A1. Areas affected by collisions included both the north and southbound carriageways of the M1 and A1 at various locations, the east and westbound carriageways of the M62 in a number of places and the M606 motorway near Bradford. The southbound carriageway of the M1 was closed near junction 41 and the A1 southbound was closed near junction 45. The high seas meant disruption for rail passengers in Devon after the line at Dawlish flooded. First Great Western was warning on Friday morning of delays of up to two hours.
But it was not all about rain. In West Yorkshire on Friday morning, drivers were warned to take extra care after a high number of collisions were caused by vehicles skidding on black ice. Sections of the M1, A1, M62 and M606 were clogged after a series of crashes.
A West Yorkshire police spokesman said the force was asking people to take "extreme care" when travelling.A West Yorkshire police spokesman said the force was asking people to take "extreme care" when travelling.
He said: "West Yorkshire police have received an exceptionally high amount of road traffic collisions throughout the early hours of the day, mainly on each of the major motorway networks due to vehicles skidding on black ice. Collisions are still being reported. "West Yorkshire police have received an exceptionally high amount of road traffic collisions throughout the early hours of the day, mainly on each of the major motorway networks due to vehicles skidding on black ice."
"So far we have had no reports of serious injuries … Emergency services are still dealing with many of these incidents and are working hard to clear the carriageways." There were no reports of serious injuries.
The weekend is expected to be a little more cheerful. It is still likely to be breezy but there should be bright spells for much of the UK.