Storm Henk chaos deepens with -6C deep freeze chilly alert on the best way

Britain’s climate chaos will deepen this weekend as a chilly climate alert is activated with temperatures set to fall to -6C (21F) amid a serious ice threat on saturated floor.

Following 40 days of steady rain that has introduced flooding distress to cities and villages throughout the UK, showers continued affecting some areas all through at the moment.

But whereas extra settled situations are on the best way this weekend, it is going to be considerably colder because the mercury drops to -4C (25F) in rural South West England tomorrow night time and -6C (21F) in rural areas alongside the Welsh border in Shropshire on Sunday night time.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a chilly climate alert overlaying the entire of England legitimate from 9am tomorrow till 12pm subsequent Tuesday, with temperatures more likely to be beneath common particularly in a single day as ice types on the very moist surfaces.

The alert means there’s an elevated well being threat for individuals aged over 65, these with pre-existing well being situations and different weak teams, such because the homeless. 

A significant flood threat additionally continues, with 302 warnings and 332 alerts in England plus 13 alerts and two warnings from Natural Resources Wales – giving a UK complete of 649. 

Severe flooding has led to tons of of individuals being evacuated, cows drowning, rail strains being blocked and roads turning to rivers amid torrential rain. It comes as:

• 1,000 properties have been flooded this week, together with tons of in a single day;
• Peaks alongside the River Trent might close to the best ranges on report from 2000;
• A celebration boat which acts as a floating bar and nightclub sank within the River Thames;
• Sandown’s £100,000 racing assembly tomorrow is off resulting from waterlogged observe.

Police had been known as to the village of Sawley in Derbyshire after drivers on the close by M1 noticed cows stranded in floodwater – with 4 of the animals later confirmed useless.

While officers and firefighters rescued 4 different cows, extra animals are regarded as lacking – and the incident prompted a multi-agency animal welfare investigation.

Major rivers together with the Thames and Trent broke their banks in locations whereas the Environment Agency issued greater than 600 flood alerts or warnings in England.

Trains on Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway and Southeastern had been blocked at the moment resulting from a combination of flooding, landslips and bushes on the road. And some colleges had been closed resulting from flooding – together with in Wiltshire and Berkshire.

In East London, 50 individuals had been evacuated after streets became rivers in Hackney Wick with ten hearth engines and 70 firefighters known as to the scene when water began racing down the banks of the canal into residential streets and floor flooring flats.

And Nottinghamshire County Council declared a serious incident ‘resulting from rising ranges alongside the River Trent’, telling residents in flood-risk areas to arrange to evacuate.

Environment Agency information revealed each river in England is now exceptionally excessive with some rivers reaching their highest circulate on report, such because the River Itchen in Southampton which noticed a circulate double its earlier report in December.

The highest rainfall totals recorded yesterday had been 35.2mm (1.4in) at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a spread of 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) throughout a lot of the South.

The Environment Agency revealed greater than 1,000 properties had been flooded this week in England, together with tons of in a single day into this morning.

The company’s govt flood director Caroline Douglass advised BBC Breakfast: ‘We’re a rustic that is moist and we at all times do get numerous rainfall. Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the bottom was extremely saturated proper throughout the nation, notably within the east.

‘That’s been topped up over the pre-Christmas interval. Rainfall from this week has simply added to that, so there’s nowhere for the water to go. In that state of affairs we get extra flooding and larger impacts than we have seen and possibly in areas the place individuals aren’t used to it.’

In Gloucestershire, police warned of highway closures resulting from rising water ranges round Tewkesbury. 

An evacuation centre was arrange within the close by village Walton Cardiff whereas individuals dwelling on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in close by Gloucester had been urged to depart their properties for a close-by leisure centre.

As for the rescued cows yesterday, a Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman advised MailOnline: ‘We had been known as to fields of Wilne Road, Sawley, simply earlier than 1.40pm following considerations from passing M1 motorists about quite a lot of cattle which seemed to be stranded in water close by.

‘Officers attended together with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. Eight cows had been rescued and 4 died. Numerous animals are believed to be lacking.

‘The proprietor of the cattle has been made conscious, and the RSPCA, Derbyshire Trading Standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have all been notified. A multi-agency investigation is more likely to be carried out to additional set up the circumstances behind the incident.’

Over in Leicestershire, a narrowboat was pushed sideways towards a bridge as water streamed previous it on the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, amid widespread flooding within the Midlands.

Local resident Sam Harper Ard, 27, mentioned: ‘I reside within the village and take my kayak out often on that stretch of the River Soar and I’ve by no means seen it so excessive.’

The PR supervisor mentioned that ‘narrowboats are an actual a part of the neighborhood right here’ so seeing a canal boat affected by the flooding was ‘actually unhappy’.

‘I hope the house owners and everybody concerned is secure,’ he mentioned.

Meanwhile a political backlash grew at the moment, with Labour accusing the Government of being ‘asleep on the wheel’ over flood warnings.

The occasion desires Rishi Sunak to convene a ‘Cobra-style taskforce’ to guard properties from additional harm.

In a joint assertion shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow setting secretary Steve Reed mentioned: ‘The Conservatives have brushed over the danger of flooding for too lengthy and communities are paying the worth.

‘Rishi Sunak has been asleep on the wheel and he should act now or threat additional harm to lives and livelihoods.

‘This just isn’t about more money. This is about guaranteeing that the price range already dedicated to flood defences is used to most impact. If that does not occur, properties throughout the nation will stay uncovered.

‘Labour would create a Cobra-style Flood Resilience Taskforce to coordinate flood preparation and shield extra households from the threats posed by local weather change and flooding.’

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats mentioned Mr Sunak ought to go to areas impacted by flooding.

The occasion’s spokeswoman for housing and communities Helen Morgan mentioned: ‘The Prime Minister ought to see for himself the devastation brought on by these floods. People’s properties and companies have been ruined but once more.

‘If Rishi Sunak truly met with individuals impacted by this annual carnage, then he may do one thing about it.

‘Under this Government flood safety plans for properties have been disgracefully slashed. This have to be reversed instantly.

‘This must be the final 12 months areas like mine in Shropshire are left to fend for themselves towards floods.’

But Mr Sunak has mentioned that folks ought to be ‘reassured’ by the response to flooding in badly affected areas.

Speaking to broadcasters in Stockport at the moment, the Prime Minister mentioned: ‘I spoke to individuals within the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and speaking to them about how devastating the affect of flooding is.

‘I simply need individuals to be reassured that the Environment Agency has acquired individuals on the bottom in all of the affected areas, additionally tons of of excessive quantity pumps are in follow proper now making a distinction and it’s important that folks comply with the recommendation that has been given in native areas the place there are flood warnings which have been given.’

‘People ought to be reassured. The Environment Agency have individuals within the floor in every single place, completely recognise the urgency of what’s occurring and they’re responding appropriately and with all due haste.’

Ken Button works at Kirk and Bill’s, a furnishings workshop in Farndon Road, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.

Water has risen up by means of the floorboards and drains resulting from flooding brought on by the storm, submerging the workshop.

Mr Button has been pumping water out at the moment, after a serious incident was declared alongside the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, which runs close to to the workshop.

He mentioned: ‘This is the second time I can ever bear in mind it occurring. 

‘The final time was round 2000, and the constructing is properly over 100 years previous, and it hasn’t been an issue prior to now, however for some cause or different it’s now, which is presumably an indication of local weather change.

‘It’s been a horrible begin to the brand new 12 months. We’ll must see what we are able to salvage. I suppose the long-term answer is to lift the ground up, however at a price.’

The flooding precipitated vital delays and cancellations to trains at the moment, with Great Western Railway warning of ‘main disruption’ till the top of the day.

National Rail mentioned: ‘Great Western Railway are at present experiencing vital disruption on the community and clients are suggested to please test your journey earlier than you journey.

‘Flooding and a severe incident close to Reading final night time, which concerned police taking management of the road, has left trains and crew within the flawed place.

‘Short-notice cancellations and a lowered stage of service on long-distance routes are anticipated all through the day.’

Due to flooding, GWR strains had been closed at the moment between Swindon and Bristol Parkway; Reading and Castle Cary; and Liskeard and Looe.

CrossNation and Transport for Wales mentioned flooding between Gloucester and Lydney meant that every one strains had been blocked.

There was disruption on Southern providers between Horsham and London Victoria resulting from a tree blocking the road at Ockley, that means trains couldn’t name at stations between Horsham and Dorking.

Elsewhere, a landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was inflicting disruption to journeys between Stevenage and Peterborough which affected six operators – Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink.

Southeastern had main disruption this morning resulting from a landslip at Maidstone East.

It meant providers couldn’t run between Maidstone East and Otford, with passengers advised to alter at Otford for providers to London Bridge, Waterloo East and London Charing Cross.

On the road from London Victoria to Ashford by way of Maidstone East, providers had been diverting by way of Paddock Wood between Otford and Ashford and weren’t name at any stations on the Maidstone East line. Passengers had been advised to alter at Otford for a bus alternative working to Ashford by way of Maidstone East.

On the road from Ashford to London Victoria by way of Maidstone East, trains had been working however might be delayed.

Separately, Southeastern added {that a} landslip at Robertsbridge meant trains working by means of the station had been being cancelled.

Teams of engineers had been on web site this morning with disruption anticipated till not less than 6pm – and trains weren’t working on the Hastings line between Battle and Tunbridge Wells.

Elsewhere, South Western Railway mentioned providers working throughout the entire community could also be cancelled, delayed or revised because of the heavy rainfall and a number of incidents of flooding in addition to a landslip.

The National Rail web site mentioned: ‘The sheer quantity of rain falling on already moist and waterlogged areas, so shut after Storm Henk earlier this week, meant that in lots of areas trains had been unable to run as it might not have been secure to take action.

‘Whilst we count on water ranges to drop and many of the community to reopen at the moment, South Western Railway will be unable to function providers between Yeovil Junction and Exeter due to a landslip close to Crewkerne.

‘Disruption to the remainder of the community is predicted to final all through at the moment resulting from displaced trains and crews. South Western Railway urges everybody to test earlier than they journey to see whether or not their prepare is working as deliberate.’

Today, consultants warned the affect of floor water and river flooding will proceed to be ‘vital’ throughout elements of England following heavy rainfall.

Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, mentioned: ‘Significant floor water and river flooding impacts are attainable throughout elements of the Midlands and the south and east of England resulting from heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.

‘Ongoing minor impacts are additionally possible throughout a lot of England over the following 5 days as some bigger rivers slowly reply to latest and forecast rain.’

It comes simply days after disruption brought on by robust winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the bottom saturated and extra susceptible to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council mentioned forecasts had been exhibiting that peaks alongside the River Trent might ‘come near the best ranges on report from the 12 months 2000’, including that residents in areas alongside the Trent valley ought to be ‘ready for flooding’.

 A person stranded on his shed roof by floodwater was rescued by a crew from Highfields Fire Station who used a ship to convey him safely to land.

In an announcement, the council mentioned: ‘Key tributaries which feed in to the river Trent, together with the river Derwent, the river Soar and the river Dove, have already reached their peaks and excessive water ranges will now move down the Trent, which is more likely to result in flooding to properties and roads. 

‘Residents who reside within the flood-risk areas are being requested to make sure they’ve preparations in place in case they’re requested to evacuate.

‘Councils, emergency providers and the Environment Agency have been offering emergency help to communities impacted and can proceed to supply help throughout the county.’

Several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an property of static caravans for the over-55s simply to the east of town, had been evacuated resulting from excessive water ranges.

Dramatic aerial images confirmed how the caravan park had been fully lower off by floodwater.

The widespread flooding has additionally left some locals unable to depart their properties amid ‘disaster-like film’ scenes on the property for over-55s.

Apprenticeship tutor Sue Oosthuizen, 63, and husband Hans, 65, are at present trapped of their caravan with their cat and two pet chickens.

She mentioned: ‘We’re fully lower off from all sides and it is the worst flooding now we have ever identified right here. The solely approach you will get out and in is with waders because the water is not less than two metres in deep in most locations.

‘Several of our neighbours wanted to be evacuated, together with one poorly aged neighbour. The electrical energy has gone in some properties too, we’re fortunate ours hasn’t. We even have two pet chickens, Agnes and Precious, who at the moment are in the home with us in addition to our 12-year-old cat Peppi.

‘We moved them indoors once we noticed the water ranges rising. The reality we’re on stilts has saved the water from coming into our dwelling. We simply hope the degrees will begin to subside now. Although we’re stranded, we have had a number of assist and help from the neighborhood.’

Another native resident, Phil Walker, 55, added: ‘I’ve by no means identified something prefer it, the entire web site has change into an island. People had been marooned and could not get out.

‘It simply acquired greater and better, it was fairly horrifying and like one thing from a disaster-movie.

‘You’ve acquired to really feel for the individuals on the backside nearest the river as they may have suffered some nasty harm I think about. It is de facto regarding.’

Following rainfall in London, a celebration boat which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub sank within the River Thames.

The Met Office had issued a yellow climate warning of rain from 12pm yesterday till 3am this morning.

Forecasters had mentioned there was a ‘small probability’ that communities might change into lower off by flooded roads.

The interval between July and December final 12 months was the wettest on report courting again to 1890, in keeping with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Since September, the beginning of the storm 12 months, there have been eight named storms to hit the UK, which is the best quantity in a season to be named by the Met Office because it started naming them in 2015.

This has turned the nation into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke, from the University of Reading, described as a ‘drenched sponge’.