Extra pumps being turned on today as flooding levels remain high
The Environment Agency has given an update on the flooding situation
Last updated 16th Jan 2023
A "huge operation" is under way to control overflowing rivers in Somerset
Huge areas of farmland, which are particularly prone to flooding because they are below sea level, remain underwater.
Across the Somerset Levels extra pumps now being used across the area to help control the water levels.
Ian Withers, from the Environment Agency said that water levels in several rivers are currently "higher than the land around them" and surrounding moors are being used as "reservoirs" to contain the overspill.
The duty manager for the Wessex area said: "The situation at the moment is, catchments are just extremely wet and saturated.
"I think we've seen the worst of this wet weather pass through and we've got a few more settled days ahead which is really helpful.
"But as a consequence of all the rain we've had over the last week or so, the big rivers - the Severn, the Avon, the Wye - they're so full with water, and that water has now got to work its way out of the estuaries into the sea.
Recently we reported on people driving into flood water on the Somerset Levels
Devon & Somerset fire crews say a number of drivers were rescued this weekend after taking a risk and trying to drive through floodwater
Mr Withers said he believed the flooding is the latest example of "a changing climate in the shape of seasonal extremes" and "society as a whole needs to think about how much it is prepared to spend" on mitigation measures.
The Government spent £2.6 billion on flood resilience between 2015 and 2021, and it will spend double this funding over the next five years, he said.
Pensioner Jilly Jay, 65, who lives in the Somerset town of Taunton, said that the River Tone was "pouring over the bank in places" and the flooding in her area was "pretty bad".
People have been taking to the water in Keynsham