Heavy Rain, Flooding, High Winds - 19th December -->

[Summer Sun]

The rain has re arrived it the worst possible time with just days until Christmas its going to be miserable Christmas for some without doubt by the time the weekends rain is due a lot of rivers aren't likely to peak until Tuesday.

The sooner we start to see high pressure dominating the UK's weather the better we need that pest from the west Atlantic blocked off asap

Edited December 20, 2012 by Gavin.

[Summer of 76]

Having been to Christmas lunch next the River Ouse in Bedford it has certainly risen very quickly following the rain that has been falling overnight and today

[The PIT]

Just looking at the river levels around Sheffield. Nothing really alarming. Sheaf has just nudged into possible flooding likewise River Rother at catcliffe but only just outside the typical range. River Don at Ladys Bridge is fairly well into the flooding range while at Tesco's Rotherham the Don is within typical levels. Mostly the rise has levelled off. The River Sheaf takes a lot of rain too keep it going and it's one of the fastest rising and falling rivers in the UK.

River Ouse at Foss Barrier is slap bang in the middle of the typical range.

Edited December 20, 2012 by The PIT

[matty40s]

The flood free marina at Pillings Lock near Loughborough has just emailed all residents to let them know it might flood tonight. The EA has taken the drastic measure of opening the sluice gates fully at 4pm to try to protect Loughborough, however, the level has only visibly dropped 3" with lots more water further up the watercourse. This also means that villages further down, Zouch, Hathern, Kegworth will suffer again.

[Bobby]

The 12z NMM shows a lot of rain to come on Saturday, yikes for my house shows 100mm around 24 hours! Imagine that falling on flooded areas, catastrophic, luckily I'm in the mountains

Edited December 20, 2012 by Bobby

[Mark Bayley]

A further 30-40mm in most places in the next five days, up to 70mm in some areas. Certainly not looking good for those that have already experienced flooding

Edited December 20, 2012 by Mark Bayley

[johnholmes]

Just looking at the river levels around Sheffield. Nothing really alarming. Sheaf has just nudged into possible flooding likewise River Rother at catcliffe but only just outside the typical range. River Don at Ladys Bridge is fairly well into the flooding range while at Tesco's Rotherham the Don is within typical levels. Mostly the rise has levelled off. The River Sheaf takes a lot of rain too keep it going and it's one of the fastest rising and falling rivers in the UK.

River Ouse at Foss Barrier is slap bang in the middle of the typical range.

worrying though with the predicted amounts over the next 24-72 hours, especially for areas downstream of Sheffield?

[The PIT]

worrying though with the predicted amounts over the next 24-72 hours, especially for areas downstream of Sheffield?

Case of waiting too see what actually happens. The rain may not be that heavy it may get delayed allowing the rivers to drop further. Wait and see is all we can do.

[johnholmes]

yes very true, the amounts shown on the 00z are about 10mm down on the 12 and 18z outputs so that should help if the 00z turns out to be the more correct one

[Bobby]

NAE and NMM give up to 2 inches more rain across the same flooded areas tomorrow and plenty more to come.

NMM:

NAE:

Very windy too, gales for parts

[picog]

Even though we are not in an especially hard hit area, we still have 2 of the four roads in and out of the village shut with flooding.

[matty40s]

Afew piccies I took on a tour today

The new defences in Upton on Severn are doing a good job,

however, the Avon Valley is suffering.....again

and then North Leicester, towpath gone and cars fast being swamped in Syston

[philglossop]

I appear to slept through chaos in Plymouth last night- I'll put some facebook friends status up....

city centre flooded badly pics online tomoz cant believe how bad it was. All clubs were shut as no power in Union Street

union street is flooded badly

Has just walked through inches of rain to get home... Is the run trying to wash the sins of the janners away? Why did I get caught (Janner is slang for Plymouthians

Police closed Barbican- had to walk across The Hoe to get home- damn you flooding.

[philglossop]

Just looked at BBC website, and if you're coming to Plymouth or going to Cornwall you're in for trouble.

Roads leading from A38 into the city from Marsh Mills- all closed or down to 1 lane.

You can't get from the City to Plymstock/South Hams due to flooding in both Coxside and Laira Bridge areas on A379.

A38 severely disrupted from Plymouth to Trerulefoot.

Loads of roads across the City flooded- Union St, Wolseley Road, Plymouth Road Plympton, Woodford Road Plympton- problems reported getting from Wembury/Heybrook Bay at Staddiscombe.

With more rain to come... I was planning to go and do my Christmas Shopping this morning....

Edited December 22, 2012 by philglossop

[The PIT]

River levels still falling here although it is now raining. Luckily it's light so far and if it stays that way probably will just maintain levels rather than increasing them.

[Coast]

Just had a look at things on the radar and charts for midday, it's really not good:

[philglossop]

In the words of work colleague on street- "Phil its chaos out there". Radio Plymouth advising only vital travel.

Parts of the city are literally cut off- Plymstock/Plympton/Cattedown/Coxside/Leigham.

Problems with electricity in City Centre and Stonehouse due to flooding.

The next problem will be the next high tide at 1245pm. That could start to impact on Barbican and West Hoe.

[Coast]

Flooding brings travel chaos and evacuations

Motorists and rail passengers face travel disruption as millions attempt to getaway before Christmas due to heavy rain and flooding.

Flood warnings have been issued across much of the UK as heavy and prolonged rainfall is forecast to sweep across the country. Almost 200 residents in Helston, Cornwall, have been told to evacuate their homes as flood waters rose through the night. At least 50 properties in the area have already been flooded.

The emergency services said the flooding in Helston posed a serious danger to life, although some residents have been reported to have ignored the advice to leave their homes, moving to upstairs rooms instead. In Dorset a number of motorists have been rescued after becoming trapped in their vehicles by floods. One man was trapped in his car for five hours during the night.

The Environment Agency has issued 95 official flood warnings, where flooding is expected, across England, with the worst hit areas in the south west of the country. A further 275 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, have also been issued.

In Scotland flooding from rivers and surface water is also expected to hit areas many central regions of the country. The flooding and poor weather is expected to cause widespread delays and cancellations to travel plans on the busiest weekend on the roads and rail networks in the lead up to Christmas. A signalling problem on the train line near Brighton has caused severe disruption to trains south of London, including those going to Gatwick Airport. On Friday there were also major delays to services leaving Paddington, including connections to Heathrow Airport, due to a signalling fault, but these have now been restored.

Flooding between Taunton and Exeter St Davids and a signalling problem near Plymouth has also resulted in services being cancelled in the south west of the country, with trains being replaced by buses. On the roads, the Highways Agency warned that delays were likely on most motorways and major trunk roads due to the poor weather conditions and warned drivers to take care.

An estimated 15 million people are expected to take to the roads this weekend as they travel for the Christmas break. The M25, the M6 in the West Midlands, the M1 near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, the M5 near Bristol and the M62 near Warrington in Cheshire, are expected to be among the worst traffic hot spots.

The A38 from Bodmin towards Exeter is closed between the A374 Plymouth road and the A3121 because of flooding, and is expected to reopen at 8am, the Highways Agency said. The A19 is affected at the junction with the A139, with one lane on the southbound entry slip closed and the northbound exit slip road shut. There are also delays on the A27 eastbound between B2144 and A285 near Chichester because of flooding.

A spokesman for the Highway's Agency said: "Road users are advised to take extra care when driving on motorways and major trunk roads this weekend as heavy rain is set to continue across the country. "Heavy rain already affecting the south west will move quickly north and east across all areas through the morning and early afternoon, bringing the possibility of localised flooding. "The persistent rain will clear the east early afternoon, but will be followed by showers, which are expected to be fairly frequent particularly in the south west.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9762547/Flooding-brings-travel-chaos-and-evacuations.html#

[TonyH]

I suppose the good news so far is that this thread has not been as busy as could have. Lots of light to moderate rain here again lacking the intensity to cause problems.

[Coast]

I suppose the good news so far is that this thread has not been as busy as could have. Lots of light to moderate rain here again lacking the intensity to cause problems.

I think the heavy stuff is more to the South of you currently (and on it's way here). I suspect Xmas is on a lot of members minds, but I can see we could get some reports of adverse weather and its after effects later this morning.

[The PIT]

Rivers levels have ceased dropping here. River sheaf has twitched a little but the rainfall at the present rate won't cause any problems. The Rother looks dodgy at Catcliffe though so that's the one to watch.

[peterf]

listening to radio Cornwall online,really feel for folks down there at present.

[knocker]

Yes some people are suffering for the nth time but it's very patchy. Didn't have that much rain here and north of Helston only had about 14mm but the river Cober has burst it banks causing some serious problems and danger in Helston. Little rain at the moment more but expected this PM.

[peterf]

2 landslides also according to the radio.

SAT 24 doesn't make pleasant viewing.

http://www.sat24.com/?culture=en

[matty40s]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/environment-agency/sets/72157628747631277/with/6647770467/

3 more severe warnings gone up for the above location. The West Down above the town must be like a full sponge and can't take any more

edited to add, that is the EA photostream of the new flood defences finished 12 months ago"!!

Edited December 22, 2012 by matty40s