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

[Coast]

Christmas on hold as floods loom

Christmas preparations will be on hold for thousands of people up and down the UK as they brace themselves against the possibility of further flooding.

Hundreds of homes and businesses have been swamped with floodwaters, from the southern-most parts of Cornwall to the Highlands of Scotland as winter rains fall across a land that is saturated to bursting point. Despite a brief respite from the downpours on Sunday, water levels continued to rise as rain washed down off hills to swell already torrential rivers. And people will be watching nervously as more rain that lashed the South and South West of England overnight gradually moves northwards.

Others will be swapping turkey and presents for mops, buckets and sandbags as they desperately try to clear up and protect their homes from further threats of floods. Many will be unable to return home, instead spending the festive period with relatives or in temporary accommodation. The Environment Agency (EA) still has one severe flood warning - meaning there is "danger to life" - in place for the River Cober at Helston in west Cornwall, a town that has already seen residents evacuated from their homes. The EA said it was pumping Loe Pool to minimise the impact on water levels upstream at Helston, but that water levels were still rising.

Up to 30mm of rain is expected to fall between midnight and noon, which is expected to further contribute to the possibility of flooding, the EA said. The EA currently has 145 flood warnings in place, urging people to take immediate action, across the UK, the majority in the Midlands and the South West, and a further 268 flood alerts. Scotland has also been badly affected, with floods and high winds battering the east coast over the weekend. There are currently 23 flood warnings in place across Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Sutherland, Dundee and Angus, Tayside and the Borders, and further outbreaks of rain are expected across the country from lunchtime.

Up to 100 properties were vacated as a result of the flooding in Stonehaven, with a rest centre set up at Mackie Academy to keep the victims safe and warm. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse will visit the town to speak to residents and thank people for the efforts to mitigate and clean up the damage. Meanwhile, a woman was said to be "lucky" to be alive after she was swept from the roof of her 4x4 at the height of the floods in the West Country over the weekend. Vanessa Glover managed to cling to an overhanging branch as the River Taw burst its banks in Umberleigh, North Devon, on Saturday evening.

Paul Glover told the BBC he feared the worst for his wife: "I never thought I'd see her again. (She's got) a few bumps and bruises... (She's) a bit shaken up. We're both glad to be alive." Mrs Glover is now at home recovering after the ordeal, the BBC said

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/christmas-on-hold-as-floods-loom-16254044.html#ixzz2FxE9C3Kf

[Bobby]

Looking at the radar it seems the rain is quite a bit further North than forecast last night, it was only forecast to graze Wales but it's piling in. 15mm here so far.

[Coast]

Rail and roads affected:

http://news.sky.com/story/1029643/weather-rain-hits-roads-and-rail-amid-floods

[matty40s]

I managed to get out yesterday, The Soar has an incredible amount of water in it, and I couldn't get to the Trent. Loughborough secondary emergency flood gates were closed by the EA as the first line of defence was breached.

kegworth flood lock, usually the towpath is 4 feet above the water

Ratcliffe Lock from EastMidlands Parkway station side

SilebyMill Lane

Barrow On Soar, Procters Holiday camp

The Air Sea Rescue chopper was called in to Sawley Marina to evacuate an old lady who had fallen ill. There is no road access possible.even for 4X4

[Coast]

Christmas Day deluge for flooded areas

Parts of the country hit by flooding in the past week can expect the wet weather to continue until Friday, forecasters have said, as millions awoke to a Christmas Day deluge. The Environment Agency still has 168 flood warnings and 266 less serious flood alerts in place, mostly in south-west England, Wales and north-east Scotland.

Dorset remains the most likely area to be flooded again on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, although the rain is set to ease off over the next several days. ‘While the worse of the weather is behind us, the risk of flooding continues with rain falling on already saturated ground,’ the Environment Agency said. ‘As a result, flood warnings and alerts will remain in place for much of the week ahead. This is because river levels remain high and sensitive to further rain fall.’

Train services have been severely disrupted by the heavy rain and flooding, and rail travellers can expect delays when services resume on Boxing Day. 2012 could end as one of the wettest years on record due to the December downpours, it has been claimed. The wettest year on record remains 2000, with an average rainfall of 1,337mm.

http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/25/christmas-day-deluge-for-flooded-areas-3329378/

[Coast]

Grab your wellies: More floods expected as forecasters warn of six weeks worth of rain to fall before New Year

• Flooding expected across Britain, with 394 warnings and alerts out
  
• Boxing Day walkers warned of landslides on coastlines and rail tracks
  
• The South West, Midlands and Anglia at biggest risk from floods
  
• Seven inches to fall by Saturday on already saturated ground
  

Flooded Britain can expect seven inches more rain by Saturday as downpours and fierce winds continue to lash the country. The Met Office warned Boxing Day walkers and rail passengers to beware landslides caused by a seemingly unending deluge on saturated ground, particularly on the south-west coastline. Almost 500 homes have been breached in the past week and 394 flood warnings and alerts are in place across Britain. Ice warnings compound the festive freeze for the east coast of Scotland and the Shetland, on what is on track to be the wettest year on record.

Flooding is set to worsen across parts of England and Wales, causing the 'dangerous conditions'. The Met Office said coastal areas in the south-west of England are at particular risk of collapsing cliff edges and rockfall, but stressed that all areas enduring heavy rain are at risk. A spokesman for the Met Office said: 'We have had such heavy and persistent rain fall over the last few days and weeks and that there is a danger of landslides and rockfall along the coast, even on coastal paths.

'We are advising Boxing Day walkers in the south-west of England to take particular care in these dangerous conditions, especially those not familiar with the area. 'Do not get too close to the cliff edge or walk under the cliff face along the beach and remember that coastal paths could be impacted too.' Many coastal paths have been closed over the last few weeks along the South West and train services have been disrupted by small coastal landslides.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2253267/UK-weather-More-floods-expected-forecasters-warn-weeks-worth-rain-fall-New-Year.html#ixzz2G9aLbtE5

[Bobby]

Very worrying rainfall totals from the 06z GFS for the end of December

4-5 inches more rain, in places already flooded. More severe flooding I think over the next few days.

When I saw that Daily Mail headline I thought they were wildly exagerating again, maybe not!

[Ben Sainsbury]

Not sure if this is the right place to post; but must report and torrential shower with hail about 15-20 mins ago.

[MP-R]

Not sure if this is the right place to post; but must report and torrential shower with hail about 15-20 mins ago.

Same happened here earlier. Here's a video:

[matty40s]

There is some concern over the Thames levels, they are at the highest level since 2009 and still rising. This coupled with todays low pressure tracking across the South Midlands has resulted in the Thames Barrier being closed before the tide rises.

The low has pulled the water level up through the channel, and the back edge will force the extra water up the Thames Estuary.

[Evening thunder]

It's a bit long but have finally put together my video of the River Exe flooding on the 22nd and 23rd, including the railway track they show on the news:

[Coast]

Flood-hit areas face further rain

Flood-hit areas have been warned they face renewed problems from storms, as further rain is forecast across the UK.

There are 82 flood warnings and 185 flood alerts in England and Wales, and six flood alerts in Scotland. The main rail line in the South West of England, which was closed between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton due to flooding, is expected to reopen later. Meanwhile, Met Office figures suggest 2012 is set to be one of the wettest years since records began in 1910.

It said just 46mm of rain was needed to fall before 31 December to make this year the wettest on record for the UK overall, with 1,291.2mm recorded between 1 January and 26 December. A new record has already been set for England with 1,095.8mm falling in the year up to Boxing Day. Localised flooding BBC weather forecaster Mike Silverston said much of the UK would see heavy rain and strong winds heading into the weekend.

Up to 40mm of rain is expected fall in the South West on Saturday, with Wales and areas of north-west England expected to see between 60-80mm. He said because of the continuing saturated state of the ground this might lead to further localised flooding. A number of flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken, and flood alerts, calling on people to be prepared for possible flooding, are expected to remain in place. There are currently no severe flood warnings, which signal a danger to life. The Environment Agency said some 520 properties had flooded since Wednesday.

Buses continue to replace trains between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall, with the line possibly opening on Saturday, National Rail said. Services also continue to be disrupted between Exeter St Davids and Exmouth, and Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple. The Thames Barrier was raised on Thursday morning to keep the high tide out of London and reduce the risk of flooding as water from days of downpours causes high levels further upstream.

An amber landslide warning was put in place by the British Geological Survey has for the South West, who urged walkers to take care along coastal routes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20856619

[toggerob]

Things could get interesting for western coastlines as HF-12 winds edge nearer to the UK in association with a 944mb low to the south of Iceland. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/highseas_forecast.html#All~All

[toggerob]

+44ft waves out to see in the northern Atlantic and for a brief time this windfield and wave range making their prescence felt across northern Ireland and west Scotland. All that's needed is a 75 mile shift south and the more urbanised areas of Scotland will start to experience some of the stronger associated gusts.

How i'd like to be in Reykjavik right now however, with the harbor facing the oncoming barrage and the city standing just a few feet above this.

[Coast]

Things could get interesting for western coastlines as HF-12 winds edge nearer to the UK in association with a 944mb low to the south of Iceland. http://www.metoffice...st.html#All~All

Some huge gusts forecast for there!!!

[Bobby]

Amber warnings out for the Western Isles from the MetO with 85mph gusts forecast.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings

Also 3 days of heavy rain warnings, the hills of NW England and Wales could see 100mm over the next few days with more flooding possible.