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| 'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK | 'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| The Environment Agency issued several severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - for south-west England, Gloucestershire and Wales. | The Environment Agency issued several severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - for south-west England, Gloucestershire and Wales. |
| Tidal flooding is expected in "numerous locations" on Friday due to large waves, high tides and strong winds. | Tidal flooding is expected in "numerous locations" on Friday 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. |
| And Devon and Cornwall Police and the Isles of Scilly Council have declared a major incident as waves of more than 30ft (10m) are predicted to hit the coasts in those areas. | And Devon and Cornwall Police and the Isles of Scilly Council have declared a major incident as waves of more than 30ft (10m) are predicted to hit the coasts in those areas. |
| 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. | 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 and Gloucestershire. | The severe flood warnings have also been issued for parts of the north and south Cornwall coasts and Gloucestershire. |
| In Wales, the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for areas of Barmouth on the west coast, saying there is likely to be widespread flooding of properties and that stones and other debris in the waves may seriously injure people. | In Wales, the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for areas of Barmouth on the west coast, saying there is likely to be widespread flooding of properties and that stones and other debris in the waves may seriously injure people. |
| 'Highly dangerous' | '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. | 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. | "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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Rail disruption |
| The AA said some motorists were failing to heed flood warnings. | 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. | 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." | 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. |
| Sandbags have been given to residents in areas of Kent, where flooding once again hit the village of Yalding - where David Cameron was confronted by a resident last week. | |
| 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. |
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