UK Weather: Britain Braced For Flood Chaos In Northern England And Scotland

PA/The Huffington Post UK  |  Posted: 09/05/2012 06:23 Updated: 09/05/2012 06:25

Rain Weather
Heavy downpours have been forecast to hit southern and central England and Wales today before moving north

Parts of northern England and Scotland are facing flood fears, with heavy rain expected to sweep across most of the country, forecasters said.

Heavy downpours have been forecast to hit southern and central England and Wales today before moving north, with as much as 60mm (2.4in) of rain predicted in Cumbria and areas of southern Scotland by Friday.

MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, warned of the prospect of flooding in some areas and said there was "no end in sight" for the wet weather.

It follows the wettest April since records began, dating back a century to 1910.

Forecaster Brendan Jones said: "Very few places south of Manchester will miss the wet weather today.

"The rain will continue to move north and intensify on Thursday and into Friday. There is the possibility of local flooding problems in southern Scotland and areas of northern England such as Cumbria.

"Most of the country will see substantial rain over the next few days. Unfortunately there is no end in sign for the unsettled weather."

Between 20 and 40mm of rain are set to fall in most parts of England, Wales and southern Scotland over the next two days, Mr Jones said.

The predicted downpours follow a period of unsettled weather which has seen unusual storms hit parts of the country.

A "supercell" storm travelled through the south Midlands earlier this week, bringing rain, large hailstones, and a tornado in Oxfordshire.

The thunderstorm started in Wiltshire, and moved across Oxfordshire - where a tornado was reported in several places including Bicester, Eynsham, and Kidlington - then moved to Buckinghamshire.

The Met Office confirmed the UK had seen its wettest April on record, with almost five inches (126.5mm) falling on average during the month.

The amount was almost double the long term average for April of 69.6mm (2.7 inches) and outstripping the previous record set in 2000 by around 0.24 inches (6mm).

OFFICIAL: Wettest April Since Records Began (And The Rain Is Set To Continue)

FLOODS: Britain Braced For A Battering


Has the weather wreaked havoc where you live? Email your pictures to ukpicturedesk@teamaol.com and we’ll credit you.

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  • Spring weather May 1st

    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

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    A member of a team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service looks for hidden obstructions before launching a boat scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

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    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

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    Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: A car drives through flood water in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Cars drive though spray on the M5 motorway on May 1, 2012 near Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood waters gather on land close to Tewkesbury Abbey on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the rive in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the river in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Tourists look for a way around the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    People discuss the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

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    A general view of standing water in fields near Glastonbury, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A general view of the River Brue, which is two foot above the level of the road and fields either side, as it winds it's way along the Somerset Levels and towards Glastonbury, where St Michael's Tower sits on Glastonbury Tor, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Tewkesbury Abbey, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

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  • Spring weather Apr 25

    Shoppers use their umbrellas to shield from rain in Strafford upon Avon city centre.

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  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

FOLLOW UK

Parts of northern England and Scotland are facing flood fears, with heavy rain expected to sweep across most of the country, forecasters said. Heavy downpours have been forecast to hit southern and...
Parts of northern England and Scotland are facing flood fears, with heavy rain expected to sweep across most of the country, forecasters said. Heavy downpours have been forecast to hit southern and...
 
 
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
12:01 PM on 05/10/2012
More showers (not political parties) coming!
05:10 PM on 05/09/2012
Raining this afternoon here in yorkshire, without doubt the wettest drought on record!!
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photo
03:29 PM on 05/09/2012
God's way of reducing our water bills. The Greedy water companies will convince us other wise.
02:50 PM on 05/09/2012
The hose pipe ban could be lifted now because no one needs to use one
03:34 PM on 05/09/2012
we have a hosepipe ban but seven miles along the road in the next village, they don't????
01:37 PM on 05/09/2012
Will you STOP using the word 'braced' every day.
photo
carneliancrystal
Do I believe all the propaganda of course I do
02:20 PM on 05/09/2012
Thank you brinberlin so I am not the only one who detests this misuse of the word "braced"
a so called news outlet that uses a word constantly out of context.
Lord Elpus
If you're going through hell, keep going
03:11 PM on 05/10/2012
That's two of you then, a brace of peas from the same pod....
02:59 PM on 05/09/2012
And tomorrow I am flying with the wretched Easyjet, who, unlike any other airline I've flown with, yell at you to be prepared to take up the brace position on hearing the words "BRACE! BRACE!" (I've heard that this position, head resting on hands on seat in front of you, is to protect the teeth so the bodies are easier to identify from dental records.)
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mother77
12:55 AM on 05/10/2012
OH, YUCK.
01:29 PM on 05/09/2012
it rains in Cumbria thats why its called the lake district
01:13 PM on 05/09/2012
And we will still have a water shortage!!!! LOL!
11:37 AM on 05/09/2012
Will you please stop posting pictures of Tewkesbury and flood water as it gives the impression that things are bad here. It is 2012 not 2007. What floods were evident April 30th and since are nothing abnormal for Tewkesbury and annually are far higher than recently. I was in town last Monday and there was the unedifying sight of scores of cameramen and reporters chasing each other around the town trying to find a photograph that would sell their preconceived stories. THERE WAS NO STORY. Indeed as I passed reception in The Royal Hop Pole Hotel that morning there was a member of staff trying to reassure a guest who had booked to stay and prevent them from cancelling due to the fact that they had heard on the news that the town was under water. It was not. No access roads were under any water and business was not impeded. Now do you see the damage that you and your kind do? If you want a story why don't you interview and investigate the local councils and ask them why they spend hundreds of thousands of pounds tinkering with street furniture and pavements, disrupting businesses and yet ignoring completely any flood alleviation scheme that would be of some use to the community. It could probably be afforded form the car parking fines and charges that they seem so eager to collect from us all.
10:51 AM on 05/09/2012
I hope all this wet weather and floodind won't damage my hosepipe. I'd better store it above flood level.
10:46 AM on 05/09/2012
I live in the far North West of England, nearly in Scotland, we have had the most beautiful weather over the last few weeks, have washed everything in sight and hung it out on the line, washing smells so good after being dried outside. Lovely again today, perhaps a little chilly but the sun is shining. Get up to the far North for the best weather!
10:05 AM on 05/09/2012
Don't panic. Here in the southwest we were put on red alert last night, warnings of many floods and downpours, roads to be closed and all the usual hysteria.
what happened?
nothing.
A bit of rain
No roads closed, no flooding, nothing on the news to say more than the gardens had been watered.....
09:33 AM on 05/09/2012
I always wondered what a Met Office multi million pound computer predicted drought looked like!, Its about time they loaded that thing with proper software & not the biased rubbish!.
09:22 AM on 05/09/2012
Just glad I live on a boat !
09:48 AM on 05/09/2012
Can we join you? it's a bit damp here in Suffolk!
10:46 AM on 05/09/2012
By all means but its a long journey from suffolk to Loch Ness !
This comment has been removed.
08:47 AM on 05/09/2012
I suppose the water authorities will say it is the wrong sort of rain, and still continue with their drought warnings. Instead they should have built more reservoirs instead of paying out huge bonuses.
08:58 AM on 05/09/2012
Yes time to lift the hosepipe ban and invest in collecting all this water
This comment has been removed.
09:28 AM on 05/09/2012
Absolutely.
08:28 AM on 05/09/2012
Aw, what a shame, nice and sunny here in Edinburgh. I'm going to lay out back today in my speedos!
09:21 AM on 05/09/2012
have a nice day!!
09:26 AM on 05/09/2012
be careful you do not get a tan called RUST lol