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UK weather live: Dozens more flood warnings issued across England after a month’s rain falls in 24-hour deluge

The Environment Agency has issued 32 flood warnings after Monday’s deluge

Holly Evans,Simon Calder
Tuesday 24 September 2024 07:14
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Cars flooded in heavy downpours

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Flood warnings continue across parts of the UK, after extreme rainfall on Sunday and Monday caused roads and schools to close and wreaked transport chaos on commuters.

The autumn equinox coincided with heavy downpours as the Met Office warned “heavy rain is expected to produce some flooding”, with the Environment Agency issuing 32 warnings and 94 flood alerts.

On Monday, an amber and yellow weather warning remained in place across most of England and Wales until the end of Monday, with several schools up and down the country expected to remain closed on Tuesday.

The A421 in Bedfordshire is closed in both directions between A6 and M1 J13 due to flooding. Also, the A505 in Hitchin, Elton Way in Watford and the A404 between Chorleywood and Rickmansworth were all shut on Monday morning for the safety of road users, Hertfordshire County Council said.

Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office said on Wednesday and Thursday “unsettled weather is set to return as further frontal systems move in from the Atlantic, bringing showers or longer spells of rain to many parts of the UK”.

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Yellow weather warning issued for Thursday

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain on Thursday, which could lead to travel disruption.

The forecaster has warned there is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to homes and business, and a small change of flooding.

Holly Evans24 September 2024 12:14
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Sewage alerts issued across England’s south coast

Sewage alerts have been issued across England, putting swimmers at risk of illness.

Along the south coast, alerts have been issued by the charity Surfers Against Sewage for Southampton, and the stretch of sea near Folkestone.

It follows two days of heavy rain which saw 100mm fall in some areas in just 24 hours.

Sewage alerts have been issued for the south and east coast of England
Sewage alerts have been issued for the south and east coast of England (Surfers Against Sewage )
Holly Evans24 September 2024 11:36
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Disruption at Euston expected until 1pm

National Rail has just said the ongoing disruption caused by heavy flooding between Rugby and Milton Keynes is now expected to last until 1pm.

Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast services are being affected - including trains to and from Euston Station, some of which have been cancelled and delayed.

Holly Evans24 September 2024 11:02
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Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire and other parts of UK hit by more than 100mm of rain

Commuters are facing road closures and disrupted rail services on Tuesday as dozens of flood warnings remain in place.

It comes after parts of Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire saw more than 100mm of rain in the last 48 hours with Woburn in Bedfordshire seeing 132mm recorded, more than twice the amount of its September average rainfall amount according to the Met Office.

The Environment Agency had 32 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 94 flood alerts, meaning it is possible, in place across England on Tuesday morning, but a respite from more heavy rain is expected.

Holly Evans24 September 2024 10:30
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Bedfordshire resident who saw car stuck in floodwater says flooding is area’s worst ever

A resident of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire saw a car stuck in floodwater on the A421 and said he had never seen flooding like it in the area.

Lee Elliott, 36, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. We’ve lived here for about 10 years and that is the worst I’ve ever seen it.

“It has flooded there before, but nothing like that. It’s normally gone within a few hours.

“I was out last night helping push cars out of the floods because we came home quite late last night and saw the cars stuck in there, so we went down there to help them.”

The open boot of a car is visible in the floodwater on the A421
The open boot of a car is visible in the floodwater on the A421 (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Holly Evans24 September 2024 10:12
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Flooding causes disruption at Euston station

Euston station has apologised for the disruption caused to passengers after flooding near Milton Keynes caused rail delays.

In a post on X, they said: “We’ve been working through the night to monitor the situation & make sure the tracks are safe for trains to run.”

Holly Evans24 September 2024 09:45
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Met Office’s five-day weather forecast

Today:

Showery rain will affect Scotland, extending to parts of northern England later which can be heavy at times. Elsewhere it will be a brighter at times, though fresher day than on Monday, with a few showers developing.

Tonight:

Rain and showers largely die out across the northeast, though showers continuing across coasts. Cloudy elsewhere and turning cool in sheltered spots.

Wednesday:

Cloudy and mild in the south but rain reaches the southwest during the late morning, spreading eastwards across much of England and Wales by the end of the day.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Wet and perhaps windy weather affecting most areas on Thursday. Northern Scotland should remain drier, and colder. A showery, blustery and chilly northerly airstream for all on Friday.

Holly Evans24 September 2024 09:20
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Isolated showers and average temperatures in coming days

Maximum temperatures are expected to rise no higher than the mid-teens over the coming days, the Met Office has said.

Meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “There may be odd, heavier bursts just clipping the South East as a system does slowly start to move away, but it’s a much drier day for most people.

“There is going to be some isolated showers here and there, but they’re going to be very light, nothing like the torrential rain that we’ve seen over the last couple of days.”

River levels should start to decrease to more manageable levels elsewhere towards the end of the day as more water seeps into the ground.

The shift to drier conditions in southern areas will also signal a slight dip in temperatures.

Intermittent showers and cool weather is predicated for Tuesday and Wednesday
Intermittent showers and cool weather is predicated for Tuesday and Wednesday (Getty)
Holly Evans24 September 2024 08:51
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Travel chaos continues for road and rail commuters after extreme rainfall

Rail passengers on two of the UK’s busiest routes face cancellations, diversions and delays during the Tuesday rush hour, due to signalling problems and flooding. Meanwhile a key road in Bedfordshire remains closed due to heavy flooding, with no indication of when the A421 might reopen.

The main line from Bournemouth, Southampton and Winchester to London Waterloo will have no trains running between Basingstoke and Winchester “until approximately 10am” according to National Rail.

South Western Railway, which runs most of the trains on the affected stretch of line, warned disruption would last even longer, saying: “Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12 noon.”

Read the full article here:

More travel chaos hits road and rail commuters after month’s rain falls in 24 hours

‘At this stage we cannot provide a timeline for the A421 road to reopen’ – National Highways

Holly Evans24 September 2024 08:37
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West Coast main line and Chiltern railway disrupted by flooding

Passengers on the West Coast main line – which connects London Euston with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland – face serious problems during the morning rush-hour.

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services between through Northamptonshire are seriously disrupted .

National Rail says: “Heavy flooding between Rugby and Milton Keynes Central is disrupting journeys between these stations. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised.” Buses are replacing trains between Northampton and Milton Keynes Central.

The line running roughly parallel, between Banbury and Bicester North, is expected to be disrupted until noon.

National Rail said: “Heavy flooding between Banbury and Bicester North means the lines towards London are blocked. As a result, trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes, or diverted.

“Trains running towards London will not call at Bicester North, passengers should travel to/from Bicester Village. Disruption is expected to continue until 12 noon.”

Simon Calder 24 September 2024 08:20

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