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| UK weather: Rain, wind and snow brings 'multi-pronged' attack as hundreds of properties are expected to flood | UK weather: Rain, wind and snow brings 'multi-pronged' attack as hundreds of properties are expected to flood |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fresh round of heavy wind, rain, and now snow, is beginning to wreak havoc across Britain. | A fresh round of heavy wind, rain, and now snow, is beginning to wreak havoc across Britain. |
| The news comes as around 56,000 households remain without power after gusts of up to 108mph battered parts of the country in the “Wild Wednesday” storms, which left one man dead. | |
| The Met Office has warned already ravaged communities to expect more heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, in what is has described as a “multi-pronged attack”. | |
| Rain is already falling heavily in the South West of England, where up to 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain is set to fall in just six hours, while gusts of up to 80mph are expected to blast through parts of the country. | Rain is already falling heavily in the South West of England, where up to 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain is set to fall in just six hours, while gusts of up to 80mph are expected to blast through parts of the country. |
| 15mm of rain has already fallen in the Isles of Scilly, and 17mm in the far southwest of Cornwall. | |
| The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 17 severe flood warnings – meaning there is a risk to life - in place in the Thames Valley and Somerset. | |
| There are also 131 flood warnings in place across England and Wales. | There are also 131 flood warnings in place across England and Wales. |
| Windsor, Maidenhead and communities along the Thames in Surrey are at high risk of flooding from the River Thames, with significant flooding of homes and businesses expected. | Windsor, Maidenhead and communities along the Thames in Surrey are at high risk of flooding from the River Thames, with significant flooding of homes and businesses expected. |
| Flooding continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and there is still a high risk of coastal floods in Dorset. | Flooding continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and there is still a high risk of coastal floods in Dorset. |
| EA programme director Toby Willison told a press briefing: “I expect we will see hundreds of properties looking to flood.” He asked people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary. | |
| As well as surface water problems, the rain could also affect already full-to-bursting rivers, while some coastal areas could be at risk as blustery conditions could bring large waves. | As well as surface water problems, the rain could also affect already full-to-bursting rivers, while some coastal areas could be at risk as blustery conditions could bring large waves. |
| In the highlands of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, snow is expected with 5cm to 10cm (2-4 ins) falling above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 20cm (8 ins) above 400 metres. | In the highlands of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, snow is expected with 5cm to 10cm (2-4 ins) falling above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 20cm (8 ins) above 400 metres. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said that, while the country was in the grip of the severe weather, it remained the Government's immediate priority to do all it could to help affected local communities and coordinate the emergency response. | Prime Minister David Cameron said that, while the country was in the grip of the severe weather, it remained the Government's immediate priority to do all it could to help affected local communities and coordinate the emergency response. |
| "We are doing everything we can to help people and businesses deal with the flooding and get back on their feet. And through this new Cabinet committee we are doing all we can to ensure resilience in the future," he said. | "We are doing everything we can to help people and businesses deal with the flooding and get back on their feet. And through this new Cabinet committee we are doing all we can to ensure resilience in the future," he said. |
| Asked whether he would repeat Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' apology for the Government's early response to the crisis, Mr Cameron told ITV's Daybreak: "Of course I am very sorry for any way that people have suffered. | Asked whether he would repeat Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' apology for the Government's early response to the crisis, Mr Cameron told ITV's Daybreak: "Of course I am very sorry for any way that people have suffered. |
| Mr Cameron said that the Government's Cobra emergency committee had met before Christmas to deal with the impact of the tidal surge on the east coast and soon after Christmas as the Somerset Levels were flooded. | Mr Cameron said that the Government's Cobra emergency committee had met before Christmas to deal with the impact of the tidal surge on the east coast and soon after Christmas as the Somerset Levels were flooded. |
| "Obviously, we are facing a very difficult time because we have got the wettest start to the year for 250 years and these are extraordinary weather events, but we are fighting on every front to help people," he said. | "Obviously, we are facing a very difficult time because we have got the wettest start to the year for 250 years and these are extraordinary weather events, but we are fighting on every front to help people," he said. |
| Since early December, 5,800 properties have been flooded across the country, with high winds causing further problems yesterday. | Since early December, 5,800 properties have been flooded across the country, with high winds causing further problems yesterday. |
| Margareta Wahlstrom, the UN secretary general's special representative for disaster risk reduction, said that the current problems showed that the UK Government should give a higher priority to preventing floods. | Margareta Wahlstrom, the UN secretary general's special representative for disaster risk reduction, said that the current problems showed that the UK Government should give a higher priority to preventing floods. |
| Ms Wahlstrom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: ”The flood management legislation that you introduced in this country about four or five years ago is actually very comprehensive, but it's not covering all the angles that you now see.” | |
| Additional reporting by Press Association | Additional reporting by Press Association |