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UK storms: Further flooding risk as heavy rain forecast UK storms: Further flooding risk as heavy rain forecast
(about 9 hours later)
Parts of Britain are at risk of more flooding, as the Met Office forecasts more heavy rain in the coming days.Parts of Britain are at risk of more flooding, as the Met Office forecasts more heavy rain in the coming days.
There are more than 100 flood warnings in England, Scotland and Wales, where immediate action is required. There are more than 100 flood warnings in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Environment Agency has warned that there is a continuing risk of flooding in Dorset, south Wiltshire and parts of the Somerset Levels as saturated ground and swollen rivers struggle to cope. The Environment Agency has warned there is a continuing risk of flooding in Dorset, south Wiltshire, parts of the Somerset Levels and areas close to the River Thames.
Areas close to the Thames are also at increased risk. A Met Office yellow warning for rain has been issued for south-west England and southern Wales.
Rising water levels in Oxford on Tuesday led to Abingdon Road being closed. The warning, which comes into effect at 12:00 GMT and last until 09:00 on Thursday, also applies to the "western slice" of the Midlands.
Some residents described it as "a river", while Claire Hogan from the Duke of Monmouth pub said water had begun to "lap the doorsteps" of nearby homes. It says "periods of heavy rain" in these areas could cause further flooding, especially in Wales, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
Local vicar Jane Sherwood from St Luke's Church on nearby Canning Crescent said "people are very worried, there's water in every direction you turn". A rain warning for southern and south-eastern England expired at 06:00 GMT.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told the BBC 86 properties in Oxford had been flooded.
Temporary flood defences were installed at one end of the High Street in Guildford, Surrey, and flooding has already started to affect some areas in the county, including Chertsey, Horley, Staines, Sunbury, Thames Ditton and Weybridge.
The Environment Agency said properties in several parts of Berkshire had been flooded, including Purley on Thames, Shiplake, Old Windsor, Wraysbury, Bourne End, Datchet and along the lower Rover Lodden.
The Thames Barrier in London was closed for the 11th successive tide. The Environment Agency said it has closed operationally only 135 times since being built in the 1980s.
In Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, business leaders stressed the town centre is "open for business" with all main routes open despite extensive flooding in the outskirts.
The Environment Agency has issued 114 flood warnings for England and Wales, with the South East and South West the areas most likely to be flooded.The Environment Agency has issued 114 flood warnings for England and Wales, with the South East and South West the areas most likely to be flooded.
In Scotland, 14 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, though none is rated severe.In Scotland, 14 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, though none is rated severe.
The Environment Agency said communities in parts of the south of England were urged to prepare for more flooding for the rest of the week. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told the BBC 86 properties in Oxford had been flooded on Tuesday, and temporary flood defences were installed at one end of the High Street in Guildford, Surrey.
There is a risk of flooding from groundwater in Dorset and south Wiltshire, it said, and river flooding is expected along the River Stour, the Hampshire Avon and the Thames, including Oxford and the lower reaches of the Thames. The Environment Agency said properties in several parts of Berkshire had been flooded, including Purley on Thames, Shiplake, Old Windsor, Wraysbury, Bourne End, Datchet and along the lower Rover Lodden.
It also said the problem is ongoing in the Somerset Levels and damage to property is possible in the next 24 hours. The Thames Barrier in London was closed for the 11th successive tide. The Environment Agency said it has closed operationally only 135 times since being built in the 1980s.
The agency's flood risk manager, Paul Mustow, said: "The risk... continues this week, with communities in the South West and South East urged to stay safe and sign up to free flood warnings." Environment Agency flood risk manager Paul Mustow said: "The risk... continues this week, with communities in the South West and South East urged to stay safe and sign up to free flood warnings."
The Met Office currently has a severe weather warning for rain in place for parts of south-west England, the East and London and the South East.
This is a yellow warning - the lowest of the Met Office's three levels - for "heavy showers, some of them combined with hail and thunder".
The warning, due to run until 06:00 GMT on Wednesday, says the public should be "aware of the risk of further localised flooding, especially in areas which have been affected in recent days".
That warning has been extended to Wales and the West Midlands later on Wednesday and runs through to Thursday morning.
Parts of the south coast and Wales were battered by waves on Monday night, but that threat has receded.Parts of the south coast and Wales were battered by waves on Monday night, but that threat has receded.
In Dorset, sirens sounded in Chiswell on the Isle of Portland for the first time since they were installed 30 years ago, with one English Channel coastguard saying she had never seen such a prolonged storm.In Dorset, sirens sounded in Chiswell on the Isle of Portland for the first time since they were installed 30 years ago, with one English Channel coastguard saying she had never seen such a prolonged storm.
And in the Welsh coastal town of Aberystwyth a clean-up began on Tuesday following an "exceptional" wave swell that hit the town on Monday night that led to the evacuation of 250 seafront residents.And in the Welsh coastal town of Aberystwyth a clean-up began on Tuesday following an "exceptional" wave swell that hit the town on Monday night that led to the evacuation of 250 seafront residents.
As well as the parts of Dorset that were subject to severe flood warnings, there were also some villages in Somerset cut off and some properties flooded in Cornwall and Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Powerful waves also reduced the Pom Pom rock stack in Portland, Dorset, and a rock arch in Porthcothan Bay, Cornwall, to rubble.
There was also travel disruption, with many roads closed due to flooding.There was also travel disruption, with many roads closed due to flooding.
There has been some rail disruption caused by the bad weather, although the Rail Delivery Group, which speaks on behalf of the rail industry, said on Monday that 96% of scheduled services were operating despite localised flooding and weather damage.
The recent flooding has prompted the UK government to co-ordinate with international partners to gather information on the damage caused from their satellites.The recent flooding has prompted the UK government to co-ordinate with international partners to gather information on the damage caused from their satellites.
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