Flood alerts remain and trains disrupted after treacherous weather
A number of passengers were reported stranded across the region over the weekend, amid a yellow alert for wind and rain
Last updated 30th Sep 2024
Great Western Railway say tickets valid for Sunday are valid today - after trains weren't able to run between Exeter and Plymouth yesterday.
It's because of the severe weather conditions, which saw a number passengers stranded, and events across the region were cancelled, amid the yellow warnings for wind and rain.
Fresh weather warnings have been issued for heavy rain in parts of England and Wales - but here in the South West, those warnings - for the time being - are meant to subside today.
The Met Office says some places in southern and central England have had more than double their average rainfall in the last month.
This all comes as people in Devon and Somerset are being braced to 'act now' amid red flood warnings still being in force - after people reported saturated ground as far back as Thursday, which forced the organisers of ParkLive to call off their festival.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said they are expecting some "pretty heavy persistent rain" across North Wales and north-west England and North Wales will get the brunt of the rain.
The higher grounds in eastern England will see the most rainfall, with areas including Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire seeing less but already being saturated by recent heavy rain, he added.
It comes after a wet and windy Sunday with over an inch of rain falling - 26.1mm - in Bastreet, Cornwall, and winds of 69mph recorded in Berry Head, South Devon, the Met Office said.
Two yellow warnings, for wind and rain, came into force on Sunday and hit areas already saturated by downpours earlier in the week.
Sunday's rain warning is covering much of southern England and South Wales and continues until 9am on Monday.
The Environment Agency had 32 flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 98 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, in place across England on Sunday evening.
Mark Garratt, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said rain expected will bring a risk of surface water flooding in large parts of the South West and southern England, spreading up into the Midlands, and later, flooding in parts of Leicestershire is also possible.
He said: "It is especially important that people not to drive though flood water - it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.
"Across the country, Environment Agency teams have been out checking flood defences and clearing any debris from storm drains and are also supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.
"The advice to the public is to keep checking their flood risk, and search 'check for flooding' and to sign up for free flood warnings on the latest situation or follow @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates."
Meanwhile, a yellow warning for wind which was issued across south-west England and Wales ended at midnight on Sunday.
It comes after areas across England suffered heavy rain and localised flooding in recent days, with commuters facing widespread disruption on road and rail services.
According to the Met Office, some counties in southern and central England have already had more than 250% of their average September rainfall.
About 650 properties were flooded in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the home counties, according to the Environment Agency, which estimated about 8,200 properties had been protected.
By Tuesday night, higher pressure will move in, meaning a drier, sunnier spell, the forecaster said.
Mr Eslick added: "Come Tuesday night, into Wednesday, we're starting to see higher pressure, so turning a lot drier and plenty of sunny spells.
"But the following weekend, it does look like there's a further low pressure coming in, but we're still keeping an eye on that."