Danger to life warning as Storm Chandra hits the UK
Steven Morris
A red flood warning – meaning danger to life – has been issued for a river in south-west England as Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and strong winds to many areas of the UK.
The Environment Agency (EA) said severe flooding was expected on Tuesday morning in Ottery St Mary, which sits on the River Otter, with the flood water expected to be deep and fast-flowing.
Emergency services and local authorities were working with the EA, which advised people in parts of the town under threat to move family, pets and cars if safe to do so and turn off gas, electricity and water.
As day broke on Tuesday, there were almost 100 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – in England and nearly 200 alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in place, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. There were 17 flood alerts in Wales.
The storm was causing trouble for travellers. The M48 Severn Crossing between England and Wales was closed because of the strong winds, while high-sided vehicles were banned from the Humber Bridge in north-east England.
Sections of roads in Dorset, Somerset and east Devon were closed due to flooding. Gwent police said that the A40 was flooded between Abergavenny and Raglan in south-east Wales.
Rail operators advised people to check their planned routes before setting out. National Rail said poor weather might affect services in south-west England until the end of the day.
Key events
Rory Carroll
The wind, rain and warnings of worse to come prompted more than 300 schools and higher education providers in Northern Ireland to close on Tuesday.
Belfast City and Belfast International airports cancelled dozens of flights and the ferry operator Stena Line cancelled some sailings between Belfast and Liverpool and other routes across the Irish Sea.
There was an amber alert for wind in the eastern part of Northern Ireland until 9pm and a yellow warning for wind and rain across all Northern Ireland until midnight.
Northern Ireland Electricity said about 10,000 properties were without power
Storm Chandra caused flooding in Dublin, Waterford and other parts of the republic of Ireland, with rivers bursting their banks and swamping roads.
“Please think about your commute this morning, delay it if you can – you won’t be going anywhere fast’,” a member of the M50 motorway traffic management team told RTÉ radio. “With a major weather event, you just need to deal with it as it happens.”
Dublin airport said the storm would disrupt flight schedules for the rest of Tuesday.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings of ice on Wednesday for large parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, central Scotland, the Midlands, the east of England, London and the South East, the north of England and parts of Wales.
“Patchy ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces by Wednesday morning and may lead to some disruption,” a Met Office spokesman said.
“Clearing skies Tuesday night will allow temperatures to fall below freezing soon after midnight and on Wednesday morning.
“After the recent wet weather, icy patches are likely to develop on some untreated surfaces.”
Here are some pictures of the havoc currently being wreaked by Storm Chandra across the British Isles:
There have been six flood warnings issued by Natural Resources Wales.
These warn flooding is expected along the Afon (River) Lwyd in Ponthir, Llanyrafon, Croesyceiliog and Pontnewynydd.
Warnings are also in place for the River Monnow at Skenfrith and Osbaston, in south-east Wales.
There are a further 26 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, across southern and mid-Wales.
Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, paid tribute to council and Environment Agency staff as well as emergency services working through Storm Chandra.
He posted on social media: “It has been a truly horrendous night. If you live in or around Ottery St Mary, please take note of the update this morning, just received.
“The River Otter has reached its highest recorded ever level. The Environment Agency has issued a Severe Flood Warning on the River Otter, meaning possible danger to life.
“Flooding is expected this morning, with heavy rain continuing to fall throughout the day. We are predicting that some flood defences will be overtopped.”
He said there were reports of around 20 flooded properties across Devon and Cornwall, which was expected to increase as river levels peak and further reports were received.
Foord added: “I want to pay tribute to staff from the Environment Agency, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, who have been out in risky conditions to help keep residents safe. Also to emergency services personnel who have been rescuing people from floodwater.”
Firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles in flood water on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for Devon + Somerset Fire + Rescue Service confirmed there were no casualties.
Axminster Fire Station posted images of multiple vehicles in flood water on Facebook.
It said: “Flood water can be deeper and moving faster than it appears. Driving through it can quickly lead to vehicles becoming stranded and lives being put at risk.
“Please do not drive through flood water – turn around and find an alternative route.”
Flood and weather warnings from both Environment Agency and the Met Office are in place across much of the UK as Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and strong winds to many areas of the UK.
As day broke on Tuesday, there were almost 100 flood warnings in England and nearly 200 alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in place, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. There 24 flood alerts in Wales at the time of writing. A red flood warning – meaning danger to life – has been issued for a river in south-west England.
Have you been affected by Storm Chandra? You can tell us about your situation below – and upload any photos you have taken of the impact.
There was a severe flood warning for the River Otter at Ottery St Mary in Devon following heavy rainfall.
“Severe flooding is expected this morning and flood water is expected to be deep and fast flowing,” an Environment Agency spokesman said.
The main areas of concern are Finnimore industrial estate, Thorne Farm Way estate, Luxtons Park, Otter Mill and Tumbling Weir Way.
River levels are forecast to be at their highest between 5am and 10am.
The River Otter level at Fenny Bridges was 2.76 metres and property flooding is possible when it goes above 2.7 metres.
“This is forecast to be the highest level recorded at the Fenny Bridges Gauge,” the spokesman said.
“We are liaising with emergency services and local authorities.”
Devon and Cornwall Police released the details of the roads hit by surface water or flooding in East and Mid Devon and urged motorists to avoid them.
“Motorists are also being asked not to attempt alternative routes around the affected areas as these are also becoming treacherous, with the fire services currently dealing with several incidents of cars becoming stuck in water,” a spokesman said.
Current roads with issues:
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A30 Daisy Mount – both directions
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A30 – closed either end of Honiton
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London Road, Cranbrook junction at Gribble Lane
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A3052 Clyst St Mary, both approach at Cat and Fiddle and approach from Clyst St George
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A377 – impassable at Downes and Newton St Cyres
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A303 Upottery
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B3177 Iron Bridge
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A382 Wray Barton
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A396 Stoke Canon
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B3181 Five Bridges, Cullompton
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A379 Station Road, Dawlish
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A3052 Boshill Hill
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A358 Weycroft Bridge
Ferry operator Stena Line cancelled numerous sailings on Tuesday morning because of “adverse weather”.
These include between Belfast and Liverpool, between Belfast and Cairnryan in Scotland, between Dublin and Holyhead in North Wales, and between Fishguard in Pembrokeshire and Rosslare in Ireland.
In Scotland, operator Caledonian MacBrayne has disruption on the vast majority of its routes.
Among the routes where services are suspended are between Ardrossan and Brodick, between Troon and Brodick, between Oban and Castlebay, between Mallaig and Canna, and between Uig and Tarbert.
Scottish regional airline Loganair cancelled at least 12 flights on Tuesday.
The affected routes are between Manchester and both Newquay and the Isle of Man, between Liverpool John Lennon and the Isle of Man, and between Glasgow and Islay, Campbeltown and Tiree.
Steven Morris
Ben Johnstone, the Environment Agency’s area flood and coastal risk manager for Devon and Cornwall, has told BBC Radio Devon that the levels on the Otter are the highest on record, even superseding the autumn floods of 2000.
But he said the levels of the Otter and other rivers such as the Axe and Teign are now starting to fall. The Exe, on the other hand, is still rising.
Johnstone has been dealing with floods for 30 years. He said that while the level of the Otter was exceptional, for the most part it was a “middling” flood event.
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