This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/uk-braced-further-floods-storms-weather

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK braced for further floods as storms sweep in from Atlantic UK braced for further floods as storms sweep in from Atlantic
(about 9 hours later)
Gales and torrential rain will usher in the new year for most parts of Britain as a fresh storm sweeps in from the Atlantic, forecasters have said.Gales and torrential rain will usher in the new year for most parts of Britain as a fresh storm sweeps in from the Atlantic, forecasters have said.
There will be no letup for the storm-hit south-east of England as it prepares to face the worst of further heavy downpours on New Year's Day. There will be no letup for the storm-hit south-east of England as it prepares to face further heavy downpours on New Year's Day. But there was a glimmer of cheer for revellers in Scotland, as forecasters said there was only a small chance of showers during Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
However, there was a glimmer of festive cheer for revellers in Scotland as forecasters said there was only a very small chance of showers at Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations. "For the evening of New Year's Eve, the driest in the UK will be across Scotland," said Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers.
"For the evening of New Year's Eve the driest in the UK will be across Scotland," said Met office forecaster Helen Chivers. It was a different story in Scotland on Monday night, however, where heavy rain forced the evacuation of families from dozens of homes, with seven people rescued by a Royal Navy helicopter from a farmhouse in Closeburn near Dumfries.
The Environment Agency said it expected to issue several additional flood warnings for England and Wales on New Year's Eve and into 2014 due to a further storm heading in from the Atlantic. About 40 houses in Kirkconnel, Dumfries and Galloway, were cleared, as were 25 in Dumfries after the river Nith burst its banks, flooding the Whitesands area.
There were eight flood warnings and 119 flood alerts in place across England and Wales on Monday, with saturated grounds in many areas caused by a week of downpours. There were eight flood warnings and 119 flood alerts in place across England and Wales on Monday, with saturated ground in many areas caused by a week of downpours. "On New Year's Eve there's going to be a bit of rain, which keeps groundwater high with a continuing risk of flooding," said a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency. "On New Year's Day, heavy rain is expected, which could cause flooding to communities in the south-east and south-west of England. It could be disruptive to travel and potentially impact on properties."
"On New Year's Eve there's going to be a bit of rain, which keeps groundwater high with a continuing risk of flooding," said a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency said it expected to issue several additional flood warnings for England and Wales on New Year's Eve and into 2014 due to a new storm heading in from the Atlantic.
"On New Year's Day, heavy rain is expected, which could cause flooding to communities in the south-east and south-west of England. It could be disruptive to travel and potentially impact on properties." Engineers in Kent were on Mondaytrying to reconnect the remaining handful of storm-damaged properties there, some of which had been in darkness since Christmas Eve.
Engineers were on Monday trying to reconnect the remaining handful of storm-damaged properties in Kent, some of which had been in darkness since Christmas Eve. The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, rebuked some energy firms he said had "let their customers down badly" by responding slowly to blackouts that affected 300,000 homes. "It seems obvious at this stage that they let too many of their staff go away for the Christmas holiday – they didn't have enough people manning the call centres and that wasn't acceptable," Paterson told BBC Breakfast.
The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, rebuked some energy firms he said had "let their customers down badly" by responding slowly to blackouts that affected 300,000 homes.
"It seems obvious at this stage that they let too many of their staff go away for the Christmas holiday, they didn't have enough people manning the call centres and that wasn't acceptable," Paterson told BBC Breakfast.
"We have had bad weather overnight and we are looking to more bad weather unfortunately on New Year's Day, New Year's night. We made it very clear at Cobra yesterday – we do expect the power companies and we also expect those local councils that did not perform, that they have adequate staff to cater with what I am afraid may be more difficult times and more flooding.""We have had bad weather overnight and we are looking to more bad weather unfortunately on New Year's Day, New Year's night. We made it very clear at Cobra yesterday – we do expect the power companies and we also expect those local councils that did not perform, that they have adequate staff to cater with what I am afraid may be more difficult times and more flooding."
The evening of New Year's Eve is expected to be a mixture of showers and clear skies across England and Wales, with Edinburgh one of the few places expected to remain dry. is expected to bring a mixture of showers and clear skies across England and Wales, with Edinburgh one of the few places expected to remain dry. "The next [storm] area is heading our way from the Atlantic into the south-west of England and from about 6am [on New Year's Day] it will sweep very quickly across the UK leaving a wet and windy New Year's Day for most of the country," said Chivers.
"The next [storm] area is heading our way from the Atlantic into the south-west of England and from about 6am [on New Year's Day] it will sweep very quickly across the UK leaving a wet and windy New Year's Day for most of the country," said Chivers. But the best weather will be in northern England and Scotland. "In Edinburgh there is a very small chance of a shower in the early evening, but the rest of the evening looks dry. Those who are going out should bear in mind it will be cold so wrap up warm," Chivers said.
But the best weather will be in the northern England and Scotland. "In Edinburgh there is a very small chance of a shower in the early evening but the rest of the evening looks dry. Those who are going out should bear in mind it will be cold so wrap up warm," said added. Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, who are gearing up for 80,000 revellers, have said that any decision to cancel will be made at the last minute – but the latest forecast makes that an unlikely prospect.
Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, which are gearing up for 80,000 revellers, have said that any decision to cancel will be made at the last minute – but the latest forecast makes that an unlikely prospect.
Elsewhere in Scotland, torrential rain overnight on Sunday caused widespread flooding in Dumfries and Galloway and parts of Ayrshire. Fourteen people had to be evacuated from their flooded homes in the town of New Cumnock, in East Ayrshire.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.