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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 |
(35 minutes later) | |
A period of "exceptional weather" with rain, wind and high tides is set to hit the UK, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. | A period of "exceptional weather" with rain, wind and high tides is set to hit the UK, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. |
He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which different agencies discussed the UK's response to floods. | He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which different agencies discussed the UK's response to floods. |
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 Environment Agency has also warned of possible tidal flooding in the south and west of England later this week. | The Environment Agency has also warned of possible tidal flooding in the south and west of England later this week. |
It said it expects to issue severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - in the coming hours, most likely for the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and Wales' coastline. | |
Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. | Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. |
He said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were "absolutely prepared for the bad weather." | He said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were "absolutely prepared for the bad weather." |
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. |
'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. | |
"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." | |
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." |
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 the Environment Agency 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 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 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. |
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