UK weather: 82 warnings in place as country braces for heavy flooding
Heavy rain over the weekend means that river levels rose to a dangerous level, leading to the potential of widespread flooding.
Monday 28 October 2019 20:08, UK
82 flood warnings are in place, as well as 117 alerts after river levels surged during the weekend's heavy rainfall.
The downpour has caused train delays and flooded roads, with river levels remaining high, particularly in the Midlands.
In the West Midlands, the River Severn is set to remain a flood risk until Tuesday, while the Wye and the Trent also have a warning in place.
Travel disruption is expected in the affected areas, along with the risk that some houses may flood, according to the Environment Agency.
Defences are already in place in Bewdley, Hereford, Upton-upon-Severn and Shrewsbury, as well as temporary barriers in Ironbridge.
Despite the warnings, the weather is expected to brighten up on Monday, offering respite to the rising river levels.
The Met Office's forecast for Monday said: "Most areas bright with long periods of sunshine, albeit hazy across southern England.
"Most parts dry, but some showers over northern Scotland and the far East of England.
"Cloudier and windy over Cornwall where rain at times for some."
The flood forecast issued by the Environment Agency on Sunday said: "Local flooding is expected from rivers across parts of the West Midlands today and tomorrow.
"Local flooding from rivers is also probable across other parts of the Midlands and parts of Lincolnshire today and also possible over parts of Yorkshire today and Nottinghamshire tomorrow.
"Local ongoing flooding from the River Severn in the West Midlands is possible through to Tuesday.
"Land, roads and some individual properties will flood and there will be local travel disruption."
Rob Allen, a holidaymaker who had been staying in Lydbrook in Gloucestershire over the weekend said the rising levels on the nearby River Wye had impacted his trip.
He said: "It has affected our access to the holiday home we are in. The family car has been flooded and all three cars are going to be written off.
"From where we are staying, it is a good 400-500ft from the river - the local flood warden knocked on the door at tea-time yesterday and said there was a chance it would rise but I don't think he expected it to affect the vehicles in the way it did."
The Yorkshire area was also predicted to be severely impacted by the weather.
York St John student Emily Hood said: "I have never witnessed it [the river] risen this high before.
"People have said it's been higher but I have never captured it on camera.
"In our area, many fields and roads were flooded due to the rainfall. It rained all of last week and then pretty much for 24 hours Friday and Saturday.
"Luckily, it hasn't rained since Saturday so fingers crossed the river level starts to get lower."