Storm Conall live: Danger to life warning issued as hundreds of flood alerts in place
Fears more homes will be flooded just days after Storm Bert battered country
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Your support makes all the difference.A danger to life warning is among the hundreds of flood alerts that have been issued as Storm Conall sweeps across the UK.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Environment Agency (EA) had in place one severe flood warning for Billing Aquadrome holiday park and the surrounding parks next to the River Nene in Northampton, meaning there is danger to life risk there.
A further 84 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 159 flood alerts, warning of possible flooding, have been issued by the EA.
The Met Office earlier had in place a yellow weather warning for rain, although this has now been lifted.
Spokesman Stephen Dixon said the highest rainfall was recorded on the Isle of Wight at 43.3mm from 10pm to 10am on Wednesday morning, with conditions expected to gradually get drier throughout the day and Thursday.
The forecaster warned at least some travel disruption and flooding of homes and businesses would be likely, with trains cancelled in parts of southern England after heavy rainfall flooded railway lines.
The third storm of the season comes just days after Storm Bert left hundreds of homes flooded, turned roads into rivers and saw winds of more than 80mph.
Highway teams in West Sussex and Kent respond to multiple weather-related issues including flooding
Highways teams in West Sussex said they attended a series of overnight flooding reports.
Meanwhile, in Kent, staff are responding to multiple weather-related issues across the network, after attending more than 200 emergency tree call outs over Storm Bert.
MPs in communities hit by flooding will receive ‘whatever they need’, PM vows
MPs in communities affected by flooding after last weekend’s Storm Bert will receive “whatever they need”, the Prime Minister has vowed.
Sir Keir Starmer said a £25 million fund to maintain safety at disused coal tips in Wales “is very important” and added: “What I would say on flooding, we’ve now had two questions on this, if other members of the House do have individual issues they’re not able to raise here, if they get in touch with myself or my office, I’ll make sure that they get whatever they need in support of their constituents.”
Nick Smith, the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, had asked the Prime Minister whether he would “prioritise coal tips” and told the Commons: “Last weekend in Cwmtillery, torrential rain caused a landslip. Slurry, even boulders poured down streets. People were afraid.”
Dame Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, earlier said: “Tenbury Wells was flooded again with Storm Bert last weekend, the second time the town has been flooded this year, and it’s a town where it’s only a case of when – not if – it will flood again. And the situation is made even more devastating for residents because there is a fully developed flood defence plan that is partly funded for the town, and the Budget carried forward £2.4 billion for flood defences.”
Sir Keir described the floods in Tenbury Wells as “an awful situation for her constituents” and added: “We all know how devastating flooding is. The initial damage that it caused, but then the ongoing damage including problems then of insurance etcetera that then prevail for many, many years. We are committed to tackling this.”
Met Office lifts weather warning as forecast update issued
The Met Office’s weather warning has now been lifted.
The yellow warning for rain was in place until midday today.
In a forecast update, the weather service said: “After a damp start in the east, rain will gradually clear eastwards this afternoon.
“Brighter further north, with a few showers running down North Sea coasts.
“Cold with a few fog patches lingering.”
Highest rainfall so far recorded on Isle of Wight at 43.3mm
The highest rainfall so far recorded was on the Isle of Wight at 43.3mm from 10pm to 10am on Wednesday morning, according to Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon.
He said conditions are expected to gradually get drier throughout the day and Thursday.
The storm is expected to strengthen as it passes the UK towards the Netherlands, he added.
Storm Conall is currently battering south of UK, Met Office says
Storm Conall is currently battering the south of the UK, the Met Office has said.
The forecaster added that it is bringing more rain, before the weather clears eastwards.
‘Significant’ flooding likely in parts of UK, Environment Agency warns
“Significant” flooding is likely in parts of the UK, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency (EA) has warned.
Chris Wilding, of the Environment Agency, said “significant flooding impacts” are probable in parts of Northamptonshire, with “minor” flooding on the River Severn.
Conditions are not expected to worsen in Yorkshire and the West Midlands over the next few days.
Additional minor river and surface water flooding is also “probable” in parts of the south and east of England from late on Tuesday and through Wednesday, Mr Wilding said.
Why is the latest storm called Conall
The latest storm, called Conall, is the third of the season.
It was named by the Dutch Weather Service, which along with the Met Office and Met Eireann in Ireland name storms so communication about severe weather is easier.
Storm Conall comes after Storm Bert swept across the UK over the weekend.
Trains cancelled in parts of southern England after heavy rainfall flooded railway lines
Trains have been cancelled in parts of southern England after heavy rainfall flooded railway lines during Storm Conall.
No trains are running between Tonbridge and Redhill, Ascot and Aldershot, and Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns Road on the Isle of Wight, with National Rail also warning of disruption to services in parts of Wales and London.
It also warned there is disruption to services across other parts of England in the aftermath of Storm Bert over the weekend.
Why is the latest storm called Conall
The latest storm, called Conall, is the third of the season.
It was named by the Dutch Weather Service, which along with the Met Office and Met Eireann in Ireland name storms so communication about severe weather is easier.
Danger to life flooding warning issued
A danger to life warning has been issued by the Environment Agency (EA).
The severe flood warning, meaning there is danger to life, is still in place for Billing Aquadrome holiday park and the surrounding parks next to the River Nene in Northampton today.
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