Heavy rain warning triggers flood alerts and evacuation notice

Heavy rain forecast for Tuesday has triggered more than 200 flood alerts and warnings and prompted an evacuation notice in Norfolk.

A Met Office yellow warning of heavy rain was in force until midnight on Monday for south and mid-Wales, most of the Midlands, South Yorkshire and Cheshire.

Today the area at risk moves south slightly to cover virtually the whole of southern England and south Wales, and stretches as far north as Birmingham.

Image: The rain had already flooded this area of Blackpool in Lancashire on Monday
Image: A dreary-looking Tower Bridge – and more rain is forecast in the capital on Tuesday

Spray and flooding could make driving conditions difficult and some roads might be closed, the Met Office warned.

It said trains and buses could be delayed and that “there is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life”.

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“We could see some local quite torrential downpours and a risk of surface water flooding,” said meteorologist Luke Miall.

He said slow-moving clouds on Tuesday meant “we could see as much as 40 to 50mm (1.57-1.97in) maybe in a couple of hours in some spots”.

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Seventy-one “immediate action required” flood warnings and 192 “flooding is possible” alerts had also been issued by the Environment Agency by 9.15pm on Monday.

Image: Several hundred flood alerts and warnings have been issued. Pic: Environment Agency

They stretch along the south coast of England and as far north as Berwick-upon-Tweed, on the border with Scotland.

A precautionary evacuation notice is also in force for part of the Norfolk coast at Hunstanton, Heacham and Snettisham.

The Environment Agency (EA) said a high tide at 8.40am on Tuesday, combined with winds of up to force-6, could flood caravans and properties in the area.

“People should leave caravans and properties in the area between the hours of 7am and 10am on Tuesday 1 October and not return until it is safe to do so,” said the agency.

“They are also urged to take with them any medication, pets and anything urgent that they may require over the next 48 hours.”

In the South West, people were warned to avoid the seafront – again due to the combination of a high tides and strong winds – while in Yorkshire and the North East Environment Agency staff have been “checking defences”.

Rain and 60mph wind may hit the UK again at the end of the week, with the remnants of Hurricane Lorenzo potentially affecting parts of the British Isles.

Lorenzo was clocked with winds of 155mph last week, becoming the strongest ever to make it so far east in the Atlantic, but has now weakened to around 105mph as it nears The Azores.

However, forecasters say its exact path is unclear.

Source : Sky News : http://news.sky.com/story/uk-weather-heavy-rain-warning-triggers-flood-alerts-and-evacuation-notice-11824141