This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25228834
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Severe flood warnings issued in England as storm hits | Severe flood warnings issued in England as storm hits |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundred-mile-an-hour winds have battered parts of England with thousands of people being evacuated due to the risk of flooding. | |
A tide of more than 6ft (1.8m) above the normal maximum is expected at 22:30 GMT, caused by a spring tide and severe winds, the Environment Agency said. | |
Strong winds have affected areas in the north with a lorry overturning and trapping a car in Newcastle. | Strong winds have affected areas in the north with a lorry overturning and trapping a car in Newcastle. |
Thousands of homes in Cumbria and the North East are without power. | |
Matthew Philpott, from the Environment Agency, said: "There's some nasty weather in the North Sea at the moment with gusts of gale force north-westerly winds coupled with spring floods and a large tidal surge. | Matthew Philpott, from the Environment Agency, said: "There's some nasty weather in the North Sea at the moment with gusts of gale force north-westerly winds coupled with spring floods and a large tidal surge. |
"They are all combining to give quite a risk of flooding." | "They are all combining to give quite a risk of flooding." |
Bridge closure | Bridge closure |
Police are visiting 9,000 homes in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, advising residents to leave their homes. Respite centres are also being opened in schools. | |
Residents in Jaywick, on the Essex coast, have been told to leave by the fire service. | |
Chief Fire Officer David Johnson said 2,500 homes were being evacuated as flood levels were expected to reach 0.5m from the top of the sea wall. | |
In Norfolk, people in the Cobholm Island and Southtown areas of Great Yarmouth have been warned to prepare to leave. | |
The first surges are expected to hit the north Norfolk coast at about 20:00 GMT with low-lying places such as Wells Quay, Blakeney and Salthouses most at risk. | |
The surge is expected to proceed down the east coast into Suffolk with Lowestoft, Southwold and surrounding marshes expected to be under threat at about midnight. | |
In Greater Manchester, a lorry has overturned on Barton Bridge, on the M60, near the Trafford Centre. | |
Another lorry overturned on Redheugh Bridge in Newcastle during the rush hour. Police said the bridge was likely to remain closed for the rest of the day. | |
An Easyjet flight from Bristol to Edinburgh was diverted to Newcastle due to the high winds, but was struck by lightning on approach to the airport. | An Easyjet flight from Bristol to Edinburgh was diverted to Newcastle due to the high winds, but was struck by lightning on approach to the airport. |
Easyjet said the flight was "equipped to safely withstand lightning" and at no point was safety compromised. | |
In New Brighton, Merseyside, flooding took place during high tide on the seafront. | |
Elsewhere in England: | Elsewhere in England: |
The Environment Agency said people who have been warned of severe flooding should get their belongings to a safe place and ensure they have any medication they need. | |
If an evacuation becomes necessary the agency has asked people to prepare to leave early and to respond to instructions from emergency services staff. | If an evacuation becomes necessary the agency has asked people to prepare to leave early and to respond to instructions from emergency services staff. |
"We do not want everyone leaving for our emergency centres or relatives inland at the same time as this is likely to clog roads and make travel difficult," a spokesman said. | "We do not want everyone leaving for our emergency centres or relatives inland at the same time as this is likely to clog roads and make travel difficult," a spokesman said. |
The threat of severe weather is already affecting some businesses and a few schools. | The threat of severe weather is already affecting some businesses and a few schools. |
Police in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are on alert to help the Environment Agency. | |