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

Close to 400 areas at risk of flooding as Storm Bert brings torrential rains and winds to UK

Simon Calder,Andy Gregory,Tara Cobham
Sunday 24 November 2024 09:53 EST
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UK braces for ‘disruptive snow’, ice and cold temperatures

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A body has been found in the search for a 75-year-old man missing in the River Conwy, as the heavy rainfall and thawed snow brought by Storm Bert places nearly 400 areas in the UK at risk of flooding.

Storm Bert brought nearly a month’s worth of rain in less than 48 hours, with winds of up to 82mph recorded, causing chaos for those travellling by road and rail. As temperatures rise, melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding – with the Met Office issuing six weather alerts on Sunday.

Homes and cars were submerged in Wales as rising waters were reported in towns across the country, including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare.

A body was found in the search for Brian Perry, who went missing in the River Conwy near the market town of Llanwrst on Saturday, North Wales Police said. A man in his 60s died after a tree fell on his car in Hampshire, while 10 people were rescued from a home hit by a landslide in north Wales, rescue services said.

Heathrow and Gatwick: flight cancellation chaos intensifies

Many more flights have been cancelled at Heathrow as Storm Bert disrupts flight schedules.

British Airways has now grounded well over 100 short-haul flights to and from the UK’s busiest airport. Links to Athens and Gibraltar are among the most recent cancellations.

Other airlines have also grounded flights, including SAS to and from Stockholm, TAP Portugal serving Lisbon and two round-trips from Amsterdam on KLM.

Several diversions have added to the disruptions. Emirates’ flagship service, EK1, diverted to Birmingham after attempting to land at Heathrow. An Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna went to Brussels. And two Heathrow-bound flights – Egyptair from Cairo and Saudia from Jeddah – diverted to Gatwick.

The Sussex airport has itself seen four diversions, too. Ryanair from Dublin and easyJet from Nantes both went to Birmingham instead. Wizz Air from Rome landed at Stansted. The longest diversion was on Vueling: a flight from Barcelona to Gatwick flew to Manchester. It later returned to its intended destination.

Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent24 November 2024 13:34

Storm Bert brings nearly a month’s worth of rainfall in less than 48 hours

Storm Bert has brought more than 80 per cent of November’s average monthly rainfall in less than 48 hours as it continues to cause disruption around the country.

Since the storm began in the early hours of Saturday, 149mm of rain has fallen in Tyn-Y-Waun in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. On average, the area sees 180mm of rain in the whole of November, Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said.

In England, 135.7mm of rain has been recorded from the beginning of the storm until 11am on Sunday in White Barrow in Devon which is around half of the total rainfall typical in November.

A vehicle is driven through floodwater after heavy rain in Warwick as Storm Bert continues to sweep across the country
A vehicle is driven through floodwater after heavy rain in Warwick as Storm Bert continues to sweep across the country (Jacob King/PA)
Andy Gregory24 November 2024 13:33

How long will Storm Bert last?

According to the Met Office, Storm Bert will finally clear form the far northeast early on Tuesday.

While next week will bring quieter weather for many, there is a risk of some further rain and strong winds across the south of the UK on Tuesday night and Wednesday, the forecaster said.

Looking further ahead, there are indications that the UK could see a brief return to colder conditions although for many, but it will be drier than of late, the Met Office said.

However, it is uncertain how long the more settled conditions will last, with rain probably returning to westernmost areas at least by the end of the week.

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 13:14

Storm Bert brings more than 130mm of rainfall in just 24 hours

More than 130mm of rain has already fallen in some areas over the past 24 hours, according to the Met Office.

Those large accumulations of rainfall, plus rapidly thawed snowfall from yesterday, has created a flood risk in hundreds of parts of the UK.

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 12:57

Watch: Fallen tree blocks off road in Kent

Storm Bert: Fallen tree blocks off road in Kent
Andy Gregory24 November 2024 12:38

Wind warnings in place in several counties across island of Ireland

Wind warnings are in place for several counties on the island of Ireland on Sunday as Storm Bert continues to cause challenging conditions. The storm, which landed overnight on Friday, flooded villages and roads, and disrupted travel.

In Co Donegal, Bridge Street in Killybegs was dramatically flooded, with homes and charities impacted, while the River Feale in west Limerick burst its banks. After alerts warning of rain, wind and snow lifted on Saturday, clean-up operations began and power supplies were restored to thousands of homes and businesses.

On Sunday, forecasters issued low-level wind warnings for 13 counties across the island.

Storm Bert: Wind warnings in place in several counties across island of Ireland

The worst of the storm has passed but there is still a risk of fallen trees and travel disruption in some counties.

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 12:19

Met Office graphic shows Storm Bert outlook on Sunday afternoon

A new Met Office graphic shows the outlook for Sunday afternoon, as a band of heavy rain moves in from the southwest, affecting much of England and Wales, while western Scotland continues to be buffeted by powerful winds.

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 12:01

Homes and cars submerged in Wales

Homes and cars are underwater as Storm Bert continues to take its destructive toll on Wales.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued more than 100 flood warnings and alerts across the country, with bridges shut and roads closed.

Rising waters have been reported in towns across the country, including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare, with landslides in north Wales.

Videos and pictures being shared on social media show parts of Pontypridd underwater, with cars submerged and homeowners bailing out their properties next to the River Taff.

The Pontypridd Parkrun Facebook page said: “Our park has been flooded again whilst we do not know the full extent of any damage yet, initial pictures do not look good.”

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 11:29

Severe flooding in Pontypridd as council ‘declares major incident'

Rhondda Cynon Taf council has declared a major incident due to “significant flooding” across the county, the BBC reports.

Pictures are emerging on social media showing parts of Pontypridd submerged by floodwaters. The council said it had set up emergency rest centres at Pontypridd library and Ystrad sports centre.

Andy Gregory24 November 2024 11:15

Nearly 400 areas now at risk of flooding

The number of areas at risk of flooding has now increased to nearly 400.

In England, the Environment Agency has issued 76 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and a further 193 flood alerts, which warn that it is possible.

(Environment Agency)

In Wales, there are 51 flood warnings in force – mostly in the southeast – and a further 60 alerts.

Scotland is subject to five warnings – one in Orkney, three in Tayside, and another at Strath Oykel – along with six alerts.

(Natural Resources Wales)
(SEPA)
Andy Gregory24 November 2024 10:45

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