UK Weather: More Areas Could Flood Says Environment Agency As Rain Returns

PA  |  Posted: 09/05/2012 16:13 Updated: 10/05/2012 15:04   PA

More localised flooding could hit parts of southern and eastern England and Wales as another band of heavy rain sweeps in, the Environment Agency has warned.

The agency said the wettest April on record, which caused flooding in some areas last week, had left rivers high and soils saturated, and rain expected to spread across England and Wales in the next 24 hours could lead to localised flooding.

Forecasters say spells of persistent and heavy rain are expected tonight and tomorrow, accompanied by winds of up to 50mph in some areas.

South Wales and much of southern England face up to 20mm-30mm (0.8-1.2 inches) of rain through the night, while north-east England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could see similar amounts of rain in some places tomorrow, the Met Office said.

Although there is currently just one flood warning in place, the Environment Agency said there is a risk of localised flooding across the south and south-west of England, south Wales, the Midlands and parts of East Anglia.

SEE ALSO: Prince Charles Turns Weatherman On BBC Scotland

The current flood warning is for the lower River Tone in Somerset, while six less serious alerts are also in place in East Anglia, the South East and South West.

Environment Agency flood manager Katharine Evans said: "Following an exceptionally wet April which led to some flooding last week, rivers are high and the ground is saturated, meaning that further rainfall brings with it an increased risk of flooding.

"We are continuing to closely monitor the forecast and rainfall, particularly for rivers in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall. And Environment Agency teams are out on the ground keeping a close watch on river levels, as well as checking defences and clearing any potential blockages to reduce the risk of flooding.

"If flooding does happen, we would urge people to keep away from swollen rivers and not to attempt to walk or drive through floodwater."

Flooding which followed storms and heavy rain last week left one man dead after the car he was travelling in became submerged at a flooded road ford. Despite numerous flood warnings only a small number of properties were flooded across the country.

The continued unsettled weather comes after the wettest April on record, but much of England remains officially in a state of drought following two unusually dry winters in a row.

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More localised flooding could hit parts of southern and eastern England and Wales as another band of heavy rain sweeps in, the Environment Agency has warned. The agency said the wettest April on re...
More localised flooding could hit parts of southern and eastern England and Wales as another band of heavy rain sweeps in, the Environment Agency has warned. The agency said the wettest April on re...
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09:55 on 10/05/2012
Just make sure it falls as near as possible to the reservoir.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mickbono
huff is crap
09:47 on 10/05/2012
well last month they were saying the ground was to dry&hard to soak up the rain now its too wet , how about too many houses being built on fields that used to soak up the water . how about rivers never being dredged now like they used to be , how about ditches never being cleaned out due to costcutting by councils & waterboards , how about drains that are too small to cope with all the rainwater that used to be soaked up .
08:45 on 10/05/2012
Hi.. I Own the Lower Lode Inn featured in your pictures. The small normal flood level that we experienced has gone away and we were back trading last friday normally with no damage or cleaning up to do. Our property is surrounded by Water in normal flood situations, ie the winter on average three times a year. We are experiencing cancellation after cancellation now with bookings for the season because of exaggeration! We are a seasonal business and summer trade is essential to our existance. the flooding hasn't damaged our business this time but media coverage still has and still is doing so now!! Samantha
14:52 on 10/05/2012
I really sympathise with you Samantha it is about time the media was jumped on from a very great height half the time their reporting is not only inaccurate but verges on nosy interference and often ( especially the BBC or so it seems to me) simply trouble making. Reports rarely seem to be balanced
photo
carneliancrystal
Do I believe all the propaganda of course I do
00:08 on 10/05/2012
After the amount of times you've told us Britain is "braced" for more flooding, freezing temperatures, snow, tornadoes, low pressure, high pressure, sun baking temperatures, storms, hurricane winds,
Just bring it on we are ready for anything we are well braced but really it's the kind of weather that we have all experienced at some time in our lives
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mirola
Read between the lines
21:46 on 09/05/2012
Floods, but we've got a drought......
21:04 on 09/05/2012
More rain means more flooding?

I don't believe it!