UK’s New Flood Alert As 2014 Begins With Yet Another Storm Of Gales And Heavy Rain

GALES and rain are set to ruin revellers’ New Year celebrations, forecasters warned last night.

There will be no let-up in the wild and stormy weather which brought misery to millions over Christmas.

As the clean-up continued yesterday, flood-hit families were warned of more chaos to come next week. After a brief respite today, wind and rain will set in again tomorrow night. Then yet another 80mph storm will strike on New Year’s Eve and last into New Year’s Day.

The forecast came as Prime Minister David Cameron visited flooded areas of Kent yesterday and was harangued by residents left without power for days.

The Environment Agency said 1,200 homes were under water and more flooding was expected across the country in the next few days from Somerset to Cambridgeshire. Meanwhile, black ice in some southern counties added to travel problems yesterday as temperatures plummeted.

The Met Office said the weather would stay “very unsettled” into the New Year. It has issued a severe weather warning for rain in the South-west on Monday with up to two inches – half a month’s worth – expected in parts.

Spokeswoman Laura Young said: “Sunday will start off dry and bright but as the day goes on the winds are going to pick up. There is also some heavy rain due and, as parts of the country have just not had a break from it, this is a concern. The strongest winds are expected in coastal regions. There is another low pressure system coming in on Tuesday afternoon.

“The general picture is very unsettled with the potential to be very wet and very windy over the next few days.”

A Met Office statement added: “Another active Atlantic frontal system is expected to swing eastwards across the UK on Sunday night and Monday morning.

“A combination of strong winds and very moist air will give locally significant accumulations of rainfall over windward coasts. Strong winds gusting up to 60mph over more exposed locations will accompany the rain.”

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said coastal regions could see winds of more than 80mph with inland gusts of over 60mph.

He said: “Several very powerful low pressure systems are lined up in the Atlantic ready to sweep in over the next week. It is looking stormy on Sunday night and into Monday and then again on Tuesday, threatening misery to New Year revellers. There are some very strong winds on the way and more heavy rain, which over saturated ground will lead to more flood problems.”

The Environment Agency said around 1,200 properties were flooded over Christmas as river levels rose. A spokesman said flooding was still a major risk across the Somerset Levels, in Essex and around the Rivers Severn and Thames and the Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire.

He added: “More rain is forecast. We urge people to prepare for flooding and avoid driving or walking through floodwater.” The agency has 115 flood alerts and 43 more serious flood warnings in place over the next few days.

Drivers in parts of the country were yesterday warned to take care as plunging temperatures turned wet roads into ice rinks. A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Most of the A-roads are affected by black ice, especially in West Sussex.

“The county council is aware of the situation and is sending gritters out to treat the roads.”

Britain has been left reeling by a succession of storms. The one that struck last Monday is thought to be the most intense for 127 years.

Gales lashed parts of the UK again on Thursday night and into yesterday, toppling trees, damaging buildings and causing travel chaos. The Met Office said 109mph gusts were recorded in Aber­daron, west Wales.

The Energy Networks Association yesterday said 13,000 homes were still without power across southern England and Wales.

Many trains into and out of London were cancelled yesterday and Regent Street was partly closed after Christmas decorations were dislodged by the winds.

Emergency services reported scores of road closures around the country, including the Severn Bridge and the Dartford Crossing in Kent. The AA attended 1,100 breakdowns an hour yesterday as motorists ignored warnings about floodwater.

The extreme weather has led to several deaths. In Newton Abbot, Devon, primary school teacher Nick Mutton, 46, died in the River Lemon trying to rescue his dog as his 10-year-old stepdaughter watched.

A man’s body was pulled from the river Rothesay, in Cumbria, while former Deutsche Bank Vice-President Susan Hewitt, 49, died in a river in Bethesda, North Wales, while trying to unblock a water pipe to aid neighbours.

Three people died in road crashes thought to be caused by the bad weather. A ferry crewman was rescued when he was found clinging to a buoy in the river Fal in Cornwall on ­Boxing Day.

Winds near Stainmore, Cumbria, were so strong at one point they caused a 30ft waterfall to flow upwards.

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