Communities urged to prepare for flooding as heavy rain hits the region
Flooding at Higher Croft, Penwortham, Preston Resident Dave Buller up to his knees in flood water
THE Environment Agency is warning residents and emergency responders across England and Wales to prepare for an increased risk of flooding over the next two days.
The Met Office is forecasting up to 80 mm (three inches) of rain for parts of the south west, south east, Midlands and north east over the next 48 hours.
Warnings are likely to be issued for river and surface water flooding, and impacts are likely to be felt across the Midlands.
Significant disruption, including disruption to travel and flooding of properties and communities, is possible. Strong winds will increase the risk of flooding as wind-blown debris has the potential to block watercourses and drains.
The Environment Agency has mobilised teams across the Midlands to check on flood defences, clear any river blockages and closely monitor river levels.
In addition to surface water flooding, it is likely that a significant number of river flood alerts (meaning that flooding is possible) and warnings (meaning that flooding is expected) will be issued over the next three days. The public are urged to check the Environment Agency website for the latest information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
Anyone concerned about potential flooding should sign up for free flood warnings on the Environment Agency’s website or by calling the Environment Agency Flood Line on 0845 988 1188.
David Jordan, Director of Operations at the Environment Agency said: “We are expecting flooding across the country from this evening and into Monday and Tuesday. We strongly urge people to sign up to flood warnings, keep a close eye on local weather forecasts and be prepared for the possibility of flooding. We also ask that people stay safe, by staying away swollen rivers and not attempting to drive through floodwater.
“The Environment Agency already has teams out on the ground checking on flood defences and clearing any blockages in order to reduce the risk of flooding as much as possible.”
For the latest information:
The latest flood warnings, updated every 15 minutes, can be found at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx
The latest three day flood forecast can be found at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/3days/125305.aspx
Social media updates are available from the Environment Agency’s Midlands twitter account, https://twitter.com/envagencymids, national twitter account, https://twitter.com/EnvAgency, and Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/environmentagency.
People can also sign up to flood alerts via the FloodAlerts Facebook App: http://www.facebook.com/FloodAlerts
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Weather for South Yorkshire
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North east
