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| UK braced for more severe weather as further storms appear on the horizon | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain will be battered by a fresh wave of "exceptional weather", with gale-force winds and driving rain creating a risk of widespread flooding, the environment secretary has warned. | |
| Owen Paterson said after a meeting of the government's Cobra committee on Thursday that emergency agencies and power companies were on high alert for further storms. | Owen Paterson said after a meeting of the government's Cobra committee on Thursday that emergency agencies and power companies were on high alert for further storms. |
| He added that ministers were working to ensure all agencies were "absolutely prepared for the bad weather". | He added that ministers were working to ensure all agencies were "absolutely prepared for the bad weather". |
| Meanwhile the Environment Agency said it was preparing to issue severe weather warnings – meaning there is a threat to life and property – for coastal areas at risk of flooding. | Meanwhile the Environment Agency said it was preparing to issue severe weather warnings – meaning there is a threat to life and property – for coastal areas at risk of flooding. |
| Large swaths of the British coastline, stretching from the Isles of Scilly to Wales and Scotland, are at risk of severe flooding, forecasters warned, as a further storm front sweeps in from the Atlantic on Friday and again on Sunday. | Large swaths of the British coastline, stretching from the Isles of Scilly to Wales and Scotland, are at risk of severe flooding, forecasters warned, as a further storm front sweeps in from the Atlantic on Friday and again on Sunday. |
| Pete Fox, head of strategy at the Environment Agency, 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. | Pete Fox, head of strategy at the Environment Agency, 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. |
| "The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely, working alongside partners including the Met Office and local authorities. Environment Agency teams are out on the ground making sure that flood defences are in good working order, monitoring sea levels and preparing to issue flood alerts and warnings." | "The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely, working alongside partners including the Met Office and local authorities. Environment Agency teams are out on the ground making sure that flood defences are in good working order, monitoring sea levels and preparing to issue flood alerts and warnings." |
| Paterson said in a statement: "With a number of flood warnings in place today and more rain and high winds forecast for tomorrow, I have today chaired a Cobra meeting to make sure that across central government departments we are ensuring that local councils, utilities and transport companies are as prepared and ready to respond as possible. | |
| "The Environment Agency and local authorities are working hard in areas that could be affected and are on the ground ready to take any necessary actions. I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to the Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice they issue to protect themselves and their properties." | |
| The Environment Agency said the flood risk will extend along the UK coastline from north-west England, through Wales and south-west and southern England. Areas particularly at risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the coastline of Wales. | The Environment Agency said the flood risk will extend along the UK coastline from north-west England, through Wales and south-west and southern England. Areas particularly at risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the coastline of Wales. |
| Severe flood warnings were issued for the coast of Cornwall and Devon on Thursday afternoon, with 65mph winds stirring up waves up to nine metres high in some places. There were also severe weather warnings in place for the rivers Taw and Torridge on the Devonshire coast, where forecasters said that there would be flooding at numerous locations due to "high spring tides and significant surge combined with large waves from the south west". | |
| Flood warnings are also in place in the Midlands, north-west, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as 229 less-serious flood alerts covering most of the UK. | |
| The bigger concern for emergency services are gale-force winds, forecast at up to 60mph (100km/h) in western and southern England on Friday and even reaching 50mph inland, including London. | The bigger concern for emergency services are gale-force winds, forecast at up to 60mph (100km/h) in western and southern England on Friday and even reaching 50mph inland, including London. |
| Forecasters expect Saturday to bring a much-needed respite from the horrendous conditions, before another low-pressure weather front moves in from the Atlantic on Sunday. | Forecasters expect Saturday to bring a much-needed respite from the horrendous conditions, before another low-pressure weather front moves in from the Atlantic on Sunday. |
| The weather warnings come after two people died after being swept out to sea by powerful waves off the south coast on New Year's Eve. | The weather warnings come after two people died after being swept out to sea by powerful waves off the south coast on New Year's Eve. |
| The search for a 27-year-old man swept out to sea on New Year's Eve was called off after a body was found on Thursday morning. The man, from Surrey, was swept out to sea by a powerful wave at 1am on Wednesday while celebrating the new year on the beach with his friends. | The search for a 27-year-old man swept out to sea on New Year's Eve was called off after a body was found on Thursday morning. The man, from Surrey, was swept out to sea by a powerful wave at 1am on Wednesday while celebrating the new year on the beach with his friends. |
| A woman died in the surf in Croyde, north Devon on New Year's Eve, after going swimming in the sea while on holiday with her family. | A woman died in the surf in Croyde, north Devon on New Year's Eve, after going swimming in the sea while on holiday with her family. |
| The incidents and risk of a worsening in the weather prompted Devon & Cornwall police to warn people not to enter the sea or even walk along promenades. | The incidents and risk of a worsening in the weather prompted Devon & Cornwall police to warn people not to enter the sea or even walk along promenades. |
| A police spokeswoman said: "There are people who enjoy swimming in all weathers as well as those who may underestimate the danger a rough sea can pose. During the current bad weather we would appeal to everyone to use common sense and not put themselves in unnecessary danger. | A police spokeswoman said: "There are people who enjoy swimming in all weathers as well as those who may underestimate the danger a rough sea can pose. During the current bad weather we would appeal to everyone to use common sense and not put themselves in unnecessary danger. |
| "In addition, people who enjoy walking on beaches and rocky areas should take care not to allow themselves or their pets get to close to waves." | "In addition, people who enjoy walking on beaches and rocky areas should take care not to allow themselves or their pets get to close to waves." |
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