2024 floods: South West suffers after a week of heavy rainfall
The Environment Agency say the impact of flooding is set to continue over the weekend
Less than a week into 2024, and residents up and down the West Country are being urged to brace themselves for flooding - after a week of heavy rainfall.
Earlier this week, Storm Henk battered the region, and on Thursday (January 4), the already saturated ground was hit with even more rain, following a Met Office yellow weather warning.
Local authorities are urging residents to get prepared - and local fire service teams are urging drivers to avoid driving in floodwater.
In Somerset, the Environment Agency has called off pumping water off the Levels because the water levels are too high.
Travel has also been majorly impacted - with operators urging passengers to travel as early as they can - or not to travel at all.
There has also been a landslip at Crewkerne, which South Western Railway said means a number of services have been cancelled altogether.
Flooding has closed the railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway and between Reading and Taunton.
The Environment Agency say significant river flooding impacts are expected today (Friday 05/01) and on Saturday across parts of the Midlands on the River Trent and in Gloucester, as well as across the South West on the River Avon.
Emergency responders and local authorities are helping to protect people and properties following the flooding across the Midlands, Southwest and Southeast with teams out on the ground across the nation, working to minimise the impacts of flooding where possible, operating flood defences and clearing watercourses.
They've confirmed more than 44,000 properties have been protected from flooding caused by Storm Henk in the last few days.
Stefan Laeger, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Significant river flooding impacts are still expected today and on Saturday across parts of the East Midlands on the River Trent downstream of Nottingham, the River Severn including Gloucester and Tewkesbury and also today in the South West on the River Avon due to the recent prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall. Flood impacts are expected to continue over parts of England over the next five days as rivers and groundwater levels remain high, despite a change to drier weather.
“Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, working to minimise the impacts of flooding where possible by operating flood defences and clearing watercourses. So far, more than 44,000 properties have been protected in the last few days. We also urge people not to drive though flood water and follow advice of local emergency services on the roads – flood water is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.
“People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation at https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding and follow @EnvAgency on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest flood updates.”