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UK floods: Fresh storm brings more rain and strong winds UK floods: Sandbags are piled up as a new storm sweeps in
(about 1 hour later)
More heavy rain and gale-force winds are sweeping across southern Britain as engineers try to reconnect more than 16,000 properties still without power. Thousands of sandbags are being piled up to protect homes and businesses as more heavy rain and gale-force winds sweep across southern Britain.
South-west England has seen torrential rain, with strong winds in the Isles of Scilly and snow on higher ground. With river levels continuing to rise, the Environment Agency has made 30,000 sandbags available to properties near the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey.
Seventeen severe flood warnings remain in place in parts of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Berkshire and Surrey. Princes William and Harry have helped pile sandbags in Datchet, Berkshire.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the government would "fight at every front to help people" hit by floods. In Wales, more than 17,000 properties remain without power following Wednesday's winds of up to 112mph.
A man has died in hospital after being hit by a falling tree in his garden in Gwynedd during Wednesday's storm.
Eighteen severe flood warnings are in place in parts of Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Berkshire and Surrey.
The latest warning covered the south Cornwall coast from Land's End to Plymouth.
The Met Office said the bad weather would come in two phases: Heavy rain for many areas during the day on Friday and then very strong winds in southern England in the evening and into Saturday morning.
BBC Weather's Peter Gibbs said that with gusts of up to 80mph likely, there was a danger of high tides bringing fresh coastal flooding.
Environment Agency flood risk manager Alison Baptiste urged people to do all they could to protect themselves and their homes.
Alex Tribick from the Spelthorne Business Forum in Surrey said the local currency had "changed from the pound to the sandbag".
Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron said the government would "fight at every front to help people" hit by floods.
He said money would be no object in a "massive national effort", saying: "I want people to know that the government absolutely stands behind this relief effort."He said money would be no object in a "massive national effort", saying: "I want people to know that the government absolutely stands behind this relief effort."
Princes William and Harry have been helping with the flood relief effort in Datchet, Berkshire.
They joined soldiers unloading sandbags in the town.
A spokesman from Kensington Palace said: "They wanted to show their support for the flood victims and have joined the armed forces relief effort."
In other developments:In other developments:
The Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings for rain, wind and snow. An amber warning for rain in the South West has now expired, but an amber warning for wind and yellow warnings for rain, wind and snow have been issued, covering much of the UK in the coming hours.
It said the bad weather would come in two phases: Heavy rain for many areas during the day on Friday and then very strong winds in southern England in the evening and overnight. Gusts could reach up to 85mph, while more snow is expected on high ground in Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Gusts could reach up to 85 mph, while more snow is expected on high ground in Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland. Forecasters said Sunday should be mostly dry, while next week's weather is not expected to be as wet or windy as in recent days.
Forecasters said south-west England and parts of south Wales could see up to 40 mm of rainfall in six to nine hours during Friday. The Energy Networks Association said electricity had been restored to almost 530,000 properties since Wednesday's storms, but 17,000 in mid and north Wales remained cut off.
Mr Cameron said people, businesses and local councils should know that the government would fund the effort, including the cost of sandbags and military deployment.
He said lessons had been learned from past flooding, adding: "There is always more we can do and we will do it."
Asked about planned job cuts at the Environment Agency, he said nothing would be done to hamper flood relief efforts.
Sandbags available
With the level of the River Thames expected to rise again during the day, people in Berkshire and Surrey have been warned properties may be at risk.
The Environment Agency's flood risk manager, Alison Baptiste, urged people to do all they could to protect themselves and their homes.
She said 30,000 sandbags were being made available across the area.
Alex Tribick from the Spelthorne Business Forum in Surrey said the local currency had "changed from the pound to the sandbag".
Very high winds are forecast to continue through Saturday morning, as is rain, while Sunday should be mostly dry.
Next week's weather is not expected to be as wet or windy as in recent days.
Meanwhile, the Energy Networks Association said about 16,000 UK properties remained without electricity on Friday morning, with 10,000 having been reconnected overnight.
It said those homes still without power were all in mid or north Wales.
Severn warningSevern warning
Some parts of the Somerset Levels have been flooded for several weeks, while areas near the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey have seen major flooding in recent days.Some parts of the Somerset Levels have been flooded for several weeks, while areas near the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey have seen major flooding in recent days.
The Environment Agency's latest severe warning was for the River Severn at Alney Island, Gloucester. As well as the 18 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has issued more than 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.
The agency has also issued more than 350 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.
Remaining travel problems include:Remaining travel problems include:
Tornado roleTornado role
Meanwhile, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado jet has captured detailed aerial pictures of areas affected by the floods.Meanwhile, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado jet has captured detailed aerial pictures of areas affected by the floods.
High-resolution imagery captured from the aircraft, deployed from RAF Marham, in Norfolk, will help in the planning of relief operations.High-resolution imagery captured from the aircraft, deployed from RAF Marham, in Norfolk, will help in the planning of relief operations.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This Tornado-borne surveillance capability is very much proven in a combat role in Afghanistan but its versatility is underlined by its use today, here at home, to support ongoing flood relief efforts."Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This Tornado-borne surveillance capability is very much proven in a combat role in Afghanistan but its versatility is underlined by its use today, here at home, to support ongoing flood relief efforts."
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading UK weather.Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading UK weather.
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