Storm Conall HITS as Brits blasted by two weeks’ rain in 24 hours with ‘danger to life’ warning over more flooding
BRITS have been batted by two weeks worth of rain in 24 hours as Storm Conall swooped in.
The storm brought torrential downpours and a “danger to life” warning over more flooding just days after Storm Bert caused widespread devastation.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for spells of heavy rain which is likely to cause delays on roads, more flooding and power supply issues in places.
London, Kent, Dorset, Portsmouth, Brighton and Isle of Wight could see up to 40mm of rain with the weather warning in place until midday, said forecasters.
It comes after Storm Bert wreaked havoc over the weekend with communities still recovering from devastation caused by the storm.
But more flooding is now expected in many parts of the UK after ongoing heavy rain as Storm Conall landed.
There are 97 active red flood warnings at the time of writing.
A bright red danger to life flood warning – the highest category warning – remains in Northampton after Storm Bert where the River Nene burst its banks and flooded the Billings Aquadrome and business parks.
A further 141 amber flood alerts are active up and down the country, meaning flooding is possible in these areas.
Disruption to travel and infrastructure is expected this morning after heavy rain fell overnight.
Flooding of “a few homes and businesses” is likely, said the Met Office.
Commuters are being urged to plan ahead as travel is likely to be impacted given recent wet weather.
The average rainfall for the whole of November for the UK is 123.3mm.
In Kent, weather watchers record an average of 82.6mm in November, and 107.2mm in the Isle of Wight.
Chris Wilding, of the Environment Agency, said “significant flooding impacts” are probable in parts of Northamptonshire, with “minor” flooding on the River Severn.
Conditions are not expected to worsen in Yorkshire and the West Midlands over the next few days.
Additional minor river and surface water flooding is also “probable” in parts of the south and east of England from late on Tuesday and through Wednesday, Mr Wilding said.
It comes as devastated families fear their homes won’t be salvaged in time for Christmas after Environment Secretary Steve Reed admitted the UK’s flood defences were in the “worst condition on record”.
People waded through deep water yesterday to escape the flooding, holding carrier bags containing their belongings.
Stan Brown, 67, who has lived on the Billing Aquadrome park for 25 years, said he has “had enough” and felt he had no choice but to move away.
He said: “I’ve got somewhere else to go but I’m one of the few. Other people have spent their life savings to buy a place on there, and now they’ve got nowhere else to go.”
Communities in England and Wales have now started a “massive clean-up” after torrential rain and widespread flooding from Storm Bert over the past few days.
Homeowners in Didcot, Oxfordshire, have been left disgusted as sewage “poured into streets” during the aftermath of the Storm.
Mr Reed has also warned that more flooding is likely this week but should have a less severe impact than has been seen so far.
Sutherland Beck in Didcot’s Ladygrove estate has been badly flooded as householders have been unable to get to work.
People living in the area have said the impact of foul waste in the streets is having a “huge impact” on their wellbeing.
Meanwhile, five people and two dogs were rescued by fire crews after becoming trapped inside a pub after the River Avon burst its banks following heavy rain.