Hundreds of flood warnings in place as UK still reeling from Storm Henk chaos

03 January 2024 , 05:00

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Upton-on-Severn in Worcestershire has already experienced flooding this week (Image: PA)

More widespread flooding is feared across the UK today following the fierce downpours of Storm Henk.

Gales exceeded 94mph yesterday as Storm Henk battered the country, felling trees and causing severe travel disruption. One person died in Wiltshire after a tree fell onto the car in which they were travelling.

With more rain expected today, particularly across northwest England and most of Wales, the Environment Agency has hundreds of flood warnings in place. Large parts of England and Wales are at risk of flooding. Clare Nasir, meteorologist with the Met Office, says: "It's a showery day and some of these showers will be heavy. This bank of showers here will club together and move from the west towards the east. The showers will become a bit scattered in the afternoon across England and Wales."

The River Ouse burst its banks in York (PA)

Up to 50mm of rain - more than an average January rainfall for most UK cities - was expected to fall on Tuesday. Official figures are yet to be released by the Met Office on exactly how much precipitation fell, although most parts of the country saw heavy downpours.

Reacting to this, Environment Agency points out serious concern for waterways across all regions in England, notably the Midlands. River Severn burst its banks in Worcester on Tuesday, and there are several flood warnings along its course in Worcestershire and Shropshire for today. The Bourn in Bournville, Birmingham, is subject to a warning, and it became sodden in a park in the area on Tuesday, with residents complaining it leaked sewage. There were 327 flood warnings for England alone today at the time of writing.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

The map highlights the locations of flood warnings across England (MET OFFICE)

One severe flood warning with risk of danger to life remains in place for the River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and nearby parks in Northampton. The warning has been issued due to deep and fast flowing water and a rapid onset of flooding.

Elsewhere, there are fears River Don will burst its banks in South Yorkshire and ground around River Aire in North Yorkshire is saturated. River Ouse in York already burst its banks on Tuesday and Environment Agency says the situation in the walled city could worsen.

The weather across the UK is forecast to remain unsettled through this week with westerly Atlantic conditions in charge. As we move through the weekend and into next week there are early signs of higher pressure developing which would settle the weather down and bring a spell of lower temperatures.

Bradley Jolly