Storm Bert live updates: Body found after man swept away by river as close to month’s rain falls in 48 hours

Natural Resource Wales has issued two severe “danger to life” flood warnings along the River Monnow, near Monmouth.

The agency has issued a further 51 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and 45 alerts, where flooding is possible.

A man in his 80s has died after his car entered water near Colne on Saturday.

In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, Lancashire Police said the man was recovered from the water on Cockhill Lane, Foulridge, shortly after 4.15pm but was later pronounced dead at hospital.

A woman in her 80s was also taken to hospital and her condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

It is unclear whether the death was related to Storm Bert, which has caused flooding across parts of the UK this weekend.

The Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said it has been “a really difficult weekend” and it is “absolutely devastating” for those affected by flooding after Storm Bert hit.

Speaking to broadcasters, Baroness Morgan said: “It’s been a really difficult weekend, and I’d like to thank the emergency services for all the support they’re giving to the people affected.

“I think this is the second time that many of those have suffered as a result of the storm. There’s been huge investments since the last storm hit, so we’ve managed to protect lots more properties than last time. But obviously this is absolutely devastating, just before Christmas for those people who have been impacted.”

Asked if there will be emergency funding available to help people, she said discussions have already started, adding “and of course, we will do everything we need to do to put measures in place to support people who’ve undergone this really, really difficult situation”.

She added that they have put “hundreds of millions of pounds” into flood defences over the past few years, which is helping to protect about 250,000 homes, but “clearly, climate change is going to impact on us, and there will come a point when it will be too difficult for us to protect every home in the country but clearly, we want to put the support in place if we’re able to do that for the people impacted”.

A resident of a town in South Wales that has been affected by the flooding fears her home could flood overnight.

Claire Instrell, whose home in Pontypridd was flooded four years ago but has avoided water this time, said: “At eight o’clock this morning, I got knocked up out of bed.

“The neighbours were going around locking everyone’s gates last night.

“The council, Natural Resources Wales, haven’t done anything, nothing at all.”

She said she did not want to sleep in her home on Sunday evening because she worried water could come in during the night.

The prime minister has said he has spoken to the Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan about the flooding in Wales and added that he is receiving updates on Storm Bert as it develops.

Sir Keir Starmer posted on X saying: “I’ve spoken with @PrifWeinidog about the severe weather and flooding in Wales.

“Thank you to the emergency services who are working tirelessly to protect communities — my thoughts are with those impacted.

“I’m receiving updates on Storm Bert as it develops across the UK.”

Record river levels were recorded on the River Taff in Wales on Saturday Night.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council leader Andrew Morgan said the river was 23mm higher than it was during Storm Dennis in 2020 at Aberdare monitoring station, which was “considerably higher than previous records” at the time.

Local MP Sir Chris Bryant has since said the river was 53cm higher in Rhondda than it was during Storm Dennis in February 2020.

The water levels on Sion Street, Pontypridd, where several homes were flooded during Storm Bert, have dropped considerably.

The fire service has been working to pump water off street and back into the river.

One car, which was partly underwater, is no longer submerged.

A Welsh government spokesperson said the weekend has been “exceptionally difficult and disruptive” due to Storm Bert and the “trauma and upset this causes should never be underestimated”.

The spokesperson added: “Given the scale of the impact, it will be vital that people continue to take extra care over the coming days and follow official advice. As the focus moves to recovery, it is important that those affected receive ongoing support and we will play our part alongside our partners in delivering that.

“Despite the significant impacts, it appears that flood defences played a role in protecting many homes and businesses, and we will continue our investment programme to make communities even more resilient to severe weather events in future.”

Wales’s deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies visited Pontypridd today, and the prime minister’s office has been in touch, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council said.

Councillor Andrew Morgan told a press conference this afternoon: “So first of all, the deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies was here this morning, I met with him to have conversations around the scale of the impact and what’s going on.”

He added that there has already been conversations with the Welsh Government, the First Minister has been in touch on Sunday afternoon, and he has had contact from the prime minister’s office “seeking again for an update and asking what assistance we may need”.