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Storm Angus: Cars submerged by floodwater as heavy rain sweeps across Britain

Between 20mm and 30mm of rain is expected to fall during a three to six hour period in some areas 

Alexandra Sims
Monday 21 November 2016 12:39 EST
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Cars submerged in floods as heavy rain follows storm Angus across the UK

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Cars have been submerged by floodwater as torrential rain, strong winds and freezing temperatures hit areas of the UK already battered by Storm Angus.

Amber "be prepared" weather warnings were issued by the Met Office in Devon and Somerset, which were hit by a "broad area of heavy, persistent rain" on Monday.

Between 20mm and 30mm of rain was expected to fall during a three to six hour period in these areas, with the possibility of 40mm to 60mm locally the whole day.

In Glasgow, an elderly woman was found dead outside her home as turbulent weather, believed to be connected to Storm Angus, caused temperatures to drop severely across the country.

Residents look at cars that have been submerged under several feet of flood water in Hartcliffe, Bristol
Residents look at cars that have been submerged under several feet of flood water in Hartcliffe, Bristol (Getty Images)
Cars submerged under several feet of flood water are abandoned in Hartcliffe (Getty Images )
Cars submerged under several feet of flood water are abandoned in Hartcliffe (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

Police said the woman's body was discovered at 10:30am on Sunday morning in her garden in the Pollokshields area of the city.

It followed the deaths of Donald MacMillan, 73, and his wife Morag, 67, who were found dead outside their home in the Western Isles on Friday morning. Officers are investigating how the couple came to be outside as temperatures dropped to below freezing overnight.

In Bristol, residents were faced with floodwater up to 1 metre deep in some parts of the city, leaving cars submerged in the waterlogged roads.

Lee Gitsham, a resident of Whitchurch Lane, said: "Parked cars were submerged in water. There were two drivers who tried to get through but got stuck. It was at wing mirror level so it must have been about 2ft-3ft of water.

Cars creep through flood water on the main A396 between Tiverton and Exeter near, Upexe
Cars creep through flood water on the main A396 between Tiverton and Exeter near, Upexe (PA)
Cars drive on a flooded street outside Port Talbot, south Wales
Cars drive on a flooded street outside Port Talbot, south Wales (EPA)

"I have lived in that area for nearly 10 years. I have never seen it as bad as that. We have had a bit of flooding where the water has covered the pavement but never where it covered car bonnets."

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said they had received reports of heavy floodwater, adding "everyone was able to get out of their vehicles safely and no one was trapped."

The Met Office said 21.6mm of rain had fallen between 9pm on Sunday and 9am on Monday on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, while 19.2 mm of rain fell in Liscombe, Somerset.

In Scotland and the north of England gusts of wind up to 70 mph are expected in places, with yellow “be aware” wind warnings issued until Tuesday morning.

The yellow rain and wind warnings also carry on into Tuesday morning for Scotland, the north of England, South West England and London and the South East.

Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: "What we have is a system gradually moving north and that is bringing rain as it travels north.

"The warning areas reflect the progress of this particular weather system - this low pressure as it goes through."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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