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-25572390
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 11 | Version 12 |
---|---|
'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK | 'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK |
(35 minutes later) | |
A period of "exceptional weather" bringing rain, wind and high tides is set to hit the UK, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. | A period of "exceptional weather" bringing rain, wind and high tides is set to hit the UK, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. |
It came as the Environment Agency issued several severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - for south-west England on Friday morning. | It came as the Environment Agency issued several severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - for south-west England on Friday morning. |
Tidal flooding is expected in "numerous locations" due to large waves, high tides and strong winds. | Tidal flooding is expected in "numerous locations" due to large waves, high tides and strong winds. |
Mr Paterson said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were prepared. | Mr Paterson said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were prepared. |
He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which the UK's flood response was discussed. | He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which the UK's flood response was discussed. |
Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. | Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. |
Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. | Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. |
Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. | Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said there is potential for flooding in a number of areas across the country, including Belfast, as a result of a tidal surge expected at midday on Friday. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said there is potential for flooding in a number of areas across the country, including Belfast, as a result of a tidal surge expected at midday on Friday. |
In England, severe flood warnings were issued for coastal areas of Devon, parts of the River Taw and River Torridge and communities near the Taw Torridge Estuary. | In England, severe flood warnings were issued for coastal areas of Devon, parts of the River Taw and River Torridge and communities near the Taw Torridge Estuary. |
High water is expected to be about 07:00 GMT on Friday. Conditions are expected to be at their worst during that time and for two to four hours either side of it. | High water is expected to be about 07:00 GMT on Friday. Conditions are expected to be at their worst during that time and for two to four hours either side of it. |
The severe flood warnings have also been issued for parts of the north and south Cornwall coasts. | The severe flood warnings have also been issued for parts of the north and south Cornwall coasts. |
'Highly dangerous' | |
The Environment Agency's head of strategy, Pete Fox, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend. | The Environment Agency's head of strategy, Pete Fox, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend. |
"Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." | "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." |
Geoff Matthews, from HM Coastguard, said people should avoid visiting coastal areas. | |
"Even a relatively small wave has the power to knock a large man off his feet and take them out to sea in the undertow," he said. | |
"The conditions on the coast will be extreme and under those circumstances we'd advise everybody to stay away from the coast and well out of the waves." | |
The Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum has declared a "major incident" in response to the threat of flooding. | |
Cornwall's emergency management centre will be opened in Truro to co-ordinate the response in the county. | |
The Council of the Isles of Scilly has checked that drains and sewerage system are clear, and has more sandbags to be used if needed. | |
Mr Paterson chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". | Mr Paterson chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". |
"We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. | "We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. |
"With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." | "With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." |
Rail disruption | |
The AA said some motorists were failing to heed flood warnings. | |
The motoring organisation said it had been to 1,500 call-outs from stranded drivers since 23 December. | |
Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "Our patrols have seen it all in that time - including people ignoring road closure signs, blindly following their sat nav or other drivers into deep water, and 4x4 drivers naively thinking their car has amphibious qualities." | |
Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. | Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. |
Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday - and those issued for Thursday - were in south-west England, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather. | Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday - and those issued for Thursday - were in south-west England, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather. |
Flooding disrupted a number of train services on Thursday morning, with no services running between Teddington, south-west London, and Shepperton in Surrey. | Flooding disrupted a number of train services on Thursday morning, with no services running between Teddington, south-west London, and Shepperton in Surrey. |
There was also disruption between Fareham and Southampton Central/Eastleigh in Hampshire, because of flooding at Hedge End and Botley. | There was also disruption between Fareham and Southampton Central/Eastleigh in Hampshire, because of flooding at Hedge End and Botley. |
In Wales, the River Towy in Carmarthen burst its banks after continuing heavy rain. | In Wales, the River Towy in Carmarthen burst its banks after continuing heavy rain. |
The Thames Barrier in London has been closed to protect people and property along the river, the Environment Agency said. | The Thames Barrier in London has been closed to protect people and property along the river, the Environment Agency said. |
The bad weather has led to power cuts for 319 properties in Surrey and Hampshire, energy supplier SSE said. | The bad weather has led to power cuts for 319 properties in Surrey and Hampshire, energy supplier SSE said. |
A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. | A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. |
And the search for a 27-year-old man washed out to sea near Porthleven, Cornwall, in the early hours of New Year's Day was called off after a body was found on the beach. | And the search for a 27-year-old man washed out to sea near Porthleven, Cornwall, in the early hours of New Year's Day was called off after a body was found on the beach. |
Rescue teams have also been searching for: | Rescue teams have also been searching for: |
Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. | Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. |
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. | The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |