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| UK floods: River levels rise as rain and wind sweep in | UK floods: River levels rise as rain and wind sweep in |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of sandbags are being piled up to protect homes and businesses as more heavy rain and gale-force winds sweep across southern Britain. | Thousands of sandbags are being piled up to protect homes and businesses as more heavy rain and gale-force winds sweep across southern Britain. |
| With river levels expected to rise, the Environment Agency has made 30,000 sandbags available to properties near the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey. | With river levels expected to rise, the Environment Agency has made 30,000 sandbags available to properties near the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey. |
| Princes William and Harry have helped pile sandbags in Datchet, Berkshire. | Princes William and Harry have helped pile sandbags in Datchet, Berkshire. |
| In Wales, more than 17,000 properties remain without power following Wednesday's winds of up to 112mph. | 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. | A man has died in hospital after being hit by a falling tree in his garden in Gwynedd during Wednesday's storm. |
| The Environment Agency has issued 23 severe flood warnings covering parts of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. | |
| The latest warnings are for various places along the south coast of England. | |
| The Met Office said the bad weather was coming 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. | The Met Office said the bad weather was coming 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. | 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. |
| The Environment Agency said flood levels on the Thames had "stabilised in the last 24 hours", but the latest rainfall would cause levels to rise again and stay high for several days. | The Environment Agency said flood levels on the Thames had "stabilised in the last 24 hours", but the latest rainfall would cause levels to rise again and stay high for several days. |
| Programme director Peter Willison said: "This remains a very live event. I expect we will see further property flooding." | Programme director Peter Willison said: "This remains a very live event. I expect we will see further property flooding." |
| Flood risk manager Alison Baptiste urged people to do all they could to protect themselves and their homes. | 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". | 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. | 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." |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 85mph, while more snow is expected on high ground in Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. |
| 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 Sunday should be mostly dry, while next week's weather is not expected to be as wet or windy as in recent days. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Severn warning | Severn 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. |
| As well as the 23 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has issued more than 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. | |
| Remaining travel problems include: | Remaining travel problems include: |
| Tornado role | Tornado 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. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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