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UK floods: More weather warnings for south and west UK floods: More weather warnings for south and west
(35 minutes later)
More rain, high winds and high tides are set to hit the south and west of the UK, causing further flooding.More rain, high winds and high tides are set to hit the south and west of the UK, causing further flooding.
The Met Office is warning of heavy rain in southern England - including the already flooded Somerset Levels - south Wales and parts of Northern Ireland.The Met Office is warning of heavy rain in southern England - including the already flooded Somerset Levels - south Wales and parts of Northern Ireland.
The Environment Agency, which has issued numerous flood warnings, said many coastal areas would be affected by high tides in the coming days.The Environment Agency, which has issued numerous flood warnings, said many coastal areas would be affected by high tides in the coming days.
This January is already the wettest on record for many southern areas.This January is already the wettest on record for many southern areas.
A Met Office amber rain warning - meaning "be prepared" - has been issued for the Somerset Levels, valid from 12:00 GMT on Friday until 03:00 on Saturday.A Met Office amber rain warning - meaning "be prepared" - has been issued for the Somerset Levels, valid from 12:00 GMT on Friday until 03:00 on Saturday.
The warning said the public should be prepared for "significant disruption from flooding across the Somerset Levels", where large areas are already flooded.The warning said the public should be prepared for "significant disruption from flooding across the Somerset Levels", where large areas are already flooded.
Most of southern England and south Wales, as well as County Antrim, County Armagh and County Down in Northern Ireland, are subject to a lower-level yellow warning throughout Friday until 03:00 on Saturday.Most of southern England and south Wales, as well as County Antrim, County Armagh and County Down in Northern Ireland, are subject to a lower-level yellow warning throughout Friday until 03:00 on Saturday.
"A further area of heavy rain will spread eastwards across the UK on Friday, clearing the southeast of England during the early hours of Saturday," the warning said."A further area of heavy rain will spread eastwards across the UK on Friday, clearing the southeast of England during the early hours of Saturday," the warning said.
"20-30 mm (1in) of rain will fall quite widely, with around 40 mm on some high ground in the southwest of England and south Wales. The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong to gale force winds.""20-30 mm (1in) of rain will fall quite widely, with around 40 mm on some high ground in the southwest of England and south Wales. The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong to gale force winds."
Meanwhile, a small number of flood warnings have been issued in Scotland.Meanwhile, a small number of flood warnings have been issued in Scotland.
'Pay close attention''Pay close attention'
The Environment Agency said places "at risk" from high tides and winds over the weekend included coastal and tidal areas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and south Gloucestershire.The Environment Agency said places "at risk" from high tides and winds over the weekend included coastal and tidal areas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and south Gloucestershire.
Many other coastal areas of England could also be affected by the wind, rain and high tides from Friday through to Sunday, it added.Many other coastal areas of England could also be affected by the wind, rain and high tides from Friday through to Sunday, it added.
Speaking after a meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency committee, on Thursday evening, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson urged people to "pay close attention" to the latest flood and weather warnings.Speaking after a meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency committee, on Thursday evening, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson urged people to "pay close attention" to the latest flood and weather warnings.
In Wales, Aberystwyth University's seafront halls of residence are to be evacuated until Monday. Buildings there have been evacuated several times in recent weeks.In Wales, Aberystwyth University's seafront halls of residence are to be evacuated until Monday. Buildings there have been evacuated several times in recent weeks.
Flood defences on part of the Welsh coast, washed away by recent storms, have been reinforced with bags of slate set down by a helicopter.Flood defences on part of the Welsh coast, washed away by recent storms, have been reinforced with bags of slate set down by a helicopter.
Army 'not needed'Army 'not needed'
In the Somerset Levels, 25 sq miles (65 sq km) has been flooded and the Environment Agency said it was running pumps 24 hours a day to drain the water.In the Somerset Levels, 25 sq miles (65 sq km) has been flooded and the Environment Agency said it was running pumps 24 hours a day to drain the water.
Military planners met council officials there on Thursday, but the county council decided Army help was not needed.Military planners met council officials there on Thursday, but the county council decided Army help was not needed.
But it said the military had been "advising and observing" and help was "very much on call" for the coming days.But it said the military had been "advising and observing" and help was "very much on call" for the coming days.
On the BBC's Question Time on Thursday, shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry accused the government of making "policy by photo opportunity" after two soldiers were pictured assessing the scene in Somerset.On the BBC's Question Time on Thursday, shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry accused the government of making "policy by photo opportunity" after two soldiers were pictured assessing the scene in Somerset.
"The prime minister said he was going to call in the Army and the Army arrive and they go home again," she said."The prime minister said he was going to call in the Army and the Army arrive and they go home again," she said.
Somerset farmer Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival, said flooding had become a yearly problem and dredging work must now be done.Somerset farmer Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival, said flooding had become a yearly problem and dredging work must now be done.
"For the sake of the meadows, the wildflowers, the fields, the farmers and the cows, this drainage has to be done," he said."For the sake of the meadows, the wildflowers, the fields, the farmers and the cows, this drainage has to be done," he said.
"There's no other way of doing it and the choice is of course to abandon the farmland and let it all flood and leave it all to wading birds.""There's no other way of doing it and the choice is of course to abandon the farmland and let it all flood and leave it all to wading birds."
Up to and including 28 January, the South East and central southern England had a record 175.2mm (6.9in) of rainfall in January - beating the previous record of 158.2mm for the same parts of England set in 1988.Up to and including 28 January, the South East and central southern England had a record 175.2mm (6.9in) of rainfall in January - beating the previous record of 158.2mm for the same parts of England set in 1988.
Across south-west England and south Wales, the 222.6 mm (8.8in) of rainfall up to midnight on Tuesday meant January was already the fifth-wettest.Across south-west England and south Wales, the 222.6 mm (8.8in) of rainfall up to midnight on Tuesday meant January was already the fifth-wettest.
For the UK as a whole, 164.6 mm (6.5in) of rain has fallen so far this month - 35% above the long-term average.For the UK as a whole, 164.6 mm (6.5in) of rain has fallen so far this month - 35% above the long-term average.
But the Met Office said it had seen a contrast from south to north across the UK, with northern Scotland having received 85% of its long-term average rainfall so far this month.But the Met Office said it had seen a contrast from south to north across the UK, with northern Scotland having received 85% of its long-term average rainfall so far this month.
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