Flood warnings as "exceptional weather" set to hit the UK

The UK is set to face a period of “exceptional weather”, with the Environment Agency issuing several severe flood warnings, indicating a danger to life from the strong winds and high tides.

The flood risk will extend along the UK coastline from north west England, through Wales and south west and southern England. Areas particularly at risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the coastline of Wales.

The most severe threats of flooding are in the south west of England according to the Environment Agency.

Speaking after a COBR meeting organised to prepare for this week’s predicted storms, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said:

“With a number of flood warnings in place today and more rain and high winds forecast for tomorrow, I have today chaired a COBR meeting to make sure that across central government departments we are ensuring that local councils, utilities and transport companies are as prepared and ready to respond as possible.

The Environment Agency and local authorities are working hard in areas that could be affected and are on the ground ready to take any necessary actions.

I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to the Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice they issue to protect themselves and their properties.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said there is potential for flooding in a number of areas across the country, including Belfast, as a result of a tidal surge expected at midday on Friday.

‘Highly dangerous’
In England, severe flood warnings were issued for coastal areas of Devon, parts of the River Taw and River Torridge and communities near the Taw Torridge Estuary.

High water is expected to be about 07:00 GMT on Friday. Conditions are expected to be at their worst during that time and for two to four hours either side of it.

The severe flood warnings have also been issued for parts of the north and south Cornwall coasts.

The Environment Agency’s head of strategy, Pete Fox, said: “We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend.

“Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline.”

Mr Paterson chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils “are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities”.

“We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas,” he said.

“With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued.”

Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded.

Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday – and those issued for Thursday – were in south-west England, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather.

Flooding disrupted a number of train services on Thursday morning, with no services running between Teddington, south-west London, and Shepperton in Surrey.

There was also disruption between Fareham and Southampton Central/Eastleigh in Hampshire, because of flooding at Hedge End and Botley.

In Wales, the River Towy in Carmarthen burst its banks after continuing heavy rain.

The Thames Barrier in London has been closed to protect people and property along the river, the Environment Agency said.

The bad weather has led to power cuts for 319 properties in Surrey and Hampshire, energy supplier SSE said.

A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing.

And the search for a 27-year-old man washed out to sea near Porthleven, Cornwall, in the early hours of New Year’s Day was called off after a body was found on the beach.

Rescue teams have also been searching for:

Sabrina Boulenouar, 33, who was last seen at her home in Upton, Dorset, in the early hours of Wednesday. Rescuers have been searching 100 acres of Dorset woodland and shoreline in gale-force winds
a man who is believed to have fallen into the River Stour in Dorset. Portland Coastguard began co-ordinating the search at about 19:00 GMT Wednesday. The search was later called off at about 22:00 GMT
Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people – including a baby – were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings – the lowest of its three levels – for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England.