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UK floods: Southern UK set for gales and more rain UK storms: Coastal areas in west hit by renewed gales
(35 minutes later)
Southern parts of the UK are again being hit by rain and strong winds with forecasters warning of gales to come. Gales are continuing across southern parts of the UK, with coastal areas facing west bearing the brunt of the strongest winds.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for high winds in south Wales and south-west England, with 60-70 mph coastal gusts and large waves expected. Forecasters said gusts reached 80mph along the coasts of Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and west Wales.
The warning, which is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday, says gusts could reach 80mph in exposed locations. Coastguards in Devon said they were expecting "phenomenal" waves offshore, possibly reaching 45ft (14m) in height.
Coastguards in Devon say they are expecting "phenomenal" waves off shore, possibly reaching 45ft (14m) in height. Western areas of the UK were also seeing the wettest weather, with heavy and at times persistent rain.
The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice to help in southern England if needed. The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice in southern England if needed.
Late on Saturday morning, about 120 homes in the Bournemouth and Petersfield areas were without electricity.Late on Saturday morning, about 120 homes in the Bournemouth and Petersfield areas were without electricity.
More than 300 homes in Cornwall also had no power.More than 300 homes in Cornwall also had no power.
In Dawlish, where the key railway line between Devon and Cornwall has been destroyed by waves, concrete has been sprayed onto the cliff behind the track.In Dawlish, where the key railway line between Devon and Cornwall has been destroyed by waves, concrete has been sprayed onto the cliff behind the track.
The aim is to make the area safer, with more high winds and large waves expected. The aim is to make the area safer in the face of continuing high winds and large waves.
The BBC's Jenny Hill, in Paignton on the south Devon coast, says the main concern is the high tide between 11:00 and 12:00 GMT.
"Waves will get higher and higher, impacting sea defences which have already taken quite a battering," she said.
The Environment Agency says there is a significant risk of further flooding on Saturday throughout Devon and Cornwall.The Environment Agency says there is a significant risk of further flooding on Saturday throughout Devon and Cornwall.
The Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said river levels in his constituency remained "enormously high" and people there were "having to batten down again to prepare for the next storm".The Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said river levels in his constituency remained "enormously high" and people there were "having to batten down again to prepare for the next storm".
He again criticised the Environment Agency and its head, the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Smith, for not dredging in the area to prepare for storms.He again criticised the Environment Agency and its head, the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Smith, for not dredging in the area to prepare for storms.
"We have been let down by London," he said. "On the ground they [Environment Agency staff] are working hard. Up in London I do not know what they are doing.""We have been let down by London," he said. "On the ground they [Environment Agency staff] are working hard. Up in London I do not know what they are doing."
The Prospect union, which represents staff in the Environment Agency, rejected the comments, saying there was a "concerted effort to criticise the Environment Agency rather than those who have cut their budget by £45m a year".The Prospect union, which represents staff in the Environment Agency, rejected the comments, saying there was a "concerted effort to criticise the Environment Agency rather than those who have cut their budget by £45m a year".
Supt Ian Wylie of Avon and Somerset police said agencies working in the area were constantly trying to plan ahead but there would be no quick solutions. Supt Ian Wylie of Avon and Somerset Police said agencies working in the area were constantly trying to plan ahead but there would be no quick solutions.
"The biggest challenge is the longevity of this," he said. "The bucket really is full. Any more rain is compounding the problem."The biggest challenge is the longevity of this," he said. "The bucket really is full. Any more rain is compounding the problem.
"It is going to be a number of weeks before this response phase moves into recovery.""It is going to be a number of weeks before this response phase moves into recovery."
Yellow warningYellow warning
An amber rain warning for southern England expired at 06:00 GMT, but a less severe yellow warning is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday. An amber rain warning for southern England has expired, but a less severe yellow warning is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday.
The yellow warning covers the entire south of England plus parts of the Midlands and much of Wales.The yellow warning covers the entire south of England plus parts of the Midlands and much of Wales.
Jacob Cope, of the BBC Weather Centre, said winds would strengthen through the day and peak in the mid-afternoon. Jacob Cope, of the BBC Weather Centre, said winds would peak in the mid-afternoon.
He said the high wind speeds would continue through the evening before easing early on Sunday.He said the high wind speeds would continue through the evening before easing early on Sunday.
Even in some inland areas, winds of 40-50mph would be seen, he added. Even in some inland areas, winds of 40-50mph would be seen.
He also warned that Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday.He also warned that Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday.
Forecasters said most areas would have some respite from the bad weather on Sunday.Forecasters said most areas would have some respite from the bad weather on Sunday.
Monday would be a quiet day but wet and windy weather would return on Tuesday.Monday would be a quiet day but wet and windy weather would return on Tuesday.
In other developments:In other developments:
Defences breachedDefences breached
At Kingsand in Cornwall, where dozens of homes were damaged by huge waves on Wednesday, the BBC's Dominic Hurst said Friday night's high tide passed with "no apparent new damage" to properties.At Kingsand in Cornwall, where dozens of homes were damaged by huge waves on Wednesday, the BBC's Dominic Hurst said Friday night's high tide passed with "no apparent new damage" to properties.
The Environment Agency has three severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland.The Environment Agency has three severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland.
The agency has also issued about 190 flood warnings and more than 300 flood alerts. The agency has also issued about 190 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts.
One of the areas covered by a severe flood warning is the village of Moorland, where about 80 homes were evacuated after the local water level rose by about one metre overnight on Thursday, breaching temporary flood defences in the early hours of Friday. One of the areas covered by a severe flood warning is the village of Moorland in Somerset, where about 80 homes were evacuated after the local water level rose by about one metre overnight on Thursday, breaching temporary flood defences in the early hours of Friday.
On Friday Prime Minister David Cameron and Lord Smith visited the Somerset Levels, which have been severely affected by flooding for several weeks. On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron and Lord Smith visited the Somerset Levels, which have been severely affected by flooding for several weeks.
Resident Jim Winkworth accused Lord Smith of "letting everyone down" by not doing more to help, but Lord Smith said he was proud of the work his agency had done.
Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding in Somerset.Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding in Somerset.
On Wednesday, the prime minister announced an extra £100m would be spent over the next year tackling the aftermath of recent flooding.
But according to a report in the Times, a letter was sent to the Downing Street last summer warning of the danger of flooding in the Somerset Levels.But according to a report in the Times, a letter was sent to the Downing Street last summer warning of the danger of flooding in the Somerset Levels.
The letter requested help to fund dredging, but it was passed to the floods minister and he rejected the plea, the newspaper reported.The letter requested help to fund dredging, but it was passed to the floods minister and he rejected the plea, the newspaper reported.
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