Met Office Warns Storm Angus Brings Flooding Risk After Heavy Rains

Storm Angus Is Going To Keep Battering Britain With Heavy Rain And Flooding
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Heavy rain will see parts of Britain already battered by Storm Angus at risk of further flooding in the next 24 hours.

Wet weather is expected to sweep across the South West and move north, causing damage and disruption as it falls on already saturated ground.

The Environment Agency said it is preparing to put up temporary defences “where necessary” and said rivers have been cleared to make sure water can flow freely.

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Simon Maycock/Alamy Live News
Porthleven, Cornwall, UK. 20th November 2016. UK Weather. Big waves brought in by Storm Angus and the supermoon batter the coast of Porthleven, with much of the south West on flood alert, after heavy rains overnight.
Keith Larby/Alamy Live News
Brighton, UK. 20th Nov, 2016. Grey Skies over Brighton Pier as storm Angus makes landfall.
Simon Maycock/Alamy Live News
Porthleven, Cornwall, UK. 20th November 2016. UK Weather. Surfers taking risky route to the sea at Porthleven after Storm Angus passes Cornwall. The breakwater at the harbour entrance is usually closed during stormy weather as several people have been killed in the past by being washed off it.
Hugo Michiels/REX/Shutterstock
Powerful waves hitting the Brighton Marina sea wall in the aftermath of StormAngus who has hit the seaside resort overnight with winds unto 80mph. Storm Angus, Brighton, UK - 20 Nov 2017
Nigel Colebrook/SWNS.com
A major rescue operation has been launched after a cargo ship Saga Sky collided with a barge - filled with rocks in the English Channel. See National story NNSHIP; The 200-metre ship Saga Sky is taking on water after the collision, during Storm Angus yesterday (Sun) morning, and 23 members of crew are being evacuated. A coastguard helicopter and lifeboat crews from Dover and Dungeness, Kent, are in the process of evacuating the crew. The general cargo ship, from Hong Kong, suffered engine failure and due to the high winds drifted onto the barge of rocks. The collision happened at Samphire Hoe, near Dover, during the height of the powerful storm. Eyewitness says the ship is continuing to drift at quite a speed towards Folkestone. A tug is currently en route from France to pull it away from the shore.
Rangers ENPA/SWNS.com
The Ancient clapper bridge destroyed as Storm Angus hits the Westcountry. A portion of the ancient Tarr Steps clapper bridge has been washed away following Storm Angus. The Tarr Steps on Exmoor are made of stones weighing between one or two tonnes each and many were swept away by the River Barle. Rangers Tweeted this morning that the middle steps have gone, meaning that the Two Moors Way and other popular hiking routes are no longer possible.
David Hedges/SWNS.com
Residents at Mill on the Mole Residential Park in South Molton, Devon, survey the damage after flooding ripped through the area last night (sat) in the wake of Storm Angus. November 20 2016. Over 100 people were evacuated from their flood-threatened homes as Storm Angus raged across Britain. A severe flood warning was issued as the River Mole in South Molton in North Devon burst its banks. Police declared a "major incident" at 4.15am, evacuating the Mill on the Mole chalet park and nearby homes. Numerous homes in Braunton, North Devon were also flooded after a nearby river burst its banks. Fire crews were helping homeowners with a salvage operation. Other parts of Devon were also flooded amid torrential rain with 53mm falling in Exeter and many roads in the city left under water. Parts of the city in Heavitree, Burnthouse Lane and Middlemoor were affected.
SWNS.com
Cars and buses drive along flooded roads in Plymouth, Devon. The Met Office has issued a 'yellow' warning of severe rain this morning for Plymouth and a more serious 'amber' warning for much of Devon. The warning is in place between 7am and 10am with heavy rain for much of the day - potentially as much as 60mm in two hours. The heavy rain, coming on top of the weekend's Storm Angus, is likely to see widespread flash flooding and traffic problems.
SWNS.com
Road users drive in dangerous conditions caused by heavy rain, M5 Motorway, South Gloucestershire. The Met Office has issued a 'yellow' warning of severe rain this morning for South West of England and a more serious 'amber' warning for much of Devon. The warning is in place between 7am and 10am with heavy rain for much of the day - potentially as much as 60mm in two hours. The heavy rain, coming on top of the weekend's Storm Angus, is likely to see widespread flash flooding and traffic problems.problems.
Robin Morrison /SWNS.com
Flooding around the River Axe near Colyton, Devon, following Storm Angus. Over 100 people were evacuated from their flood-threatened homes as Storm Angus raged across Britain. A severe flood warning was issued as the River Mole in South Molton in North Devon burst its banks. Police declared a "major incident" at 4.15am, evacuating the Mill on the Mole chalet park and nearby homes. Numerous homes in Braunton, North Devon were also flooded after a nearby river burst its banks. Fire crews were helping homeowners with a salvage operation. Other parts of Devon were also flooded amid torrential rain with 53mm falling in Exeter and many roads in the city left under water. Parts of the city in Heavitree, Burnthouse Lane and Middlemoor were affected.
Rangers ENPA/SWNS.com
The Ancient clapper bridge destroyed as Storm Angus hits the Westcountry. A portion of the ancient Tarr Steps clapper bridge has been washed away following Storm Angus. The Tarr Steps on Exmoor are made of stones weighing between one or two tonnes each and many were swept away by the River Barle. Rangers Tweeted this morning that the middle steps have gone, meaning that the Two Moors Way and other popular hiking routes are no longer possible.
Express and Echo/SWNS.com
A car was left abandoned in Exeter, Devon, after flooding following Storm Angus. Over 100 people were evacuated from their flood-threatened homes as Storm Angus raged across Britain. A severe flood warning was issued as the River Mole in South Molton in North Devon burst its banks. Police declared a "major incident" at 4.15am, evacuating the Mill on the Mole chalet park and nearby homes. Numerous homes in Braunton, North Devon were also flooded after a nearby river burst its banks. Fire crews were helping homeowners with a salvage operation. Other parts of Devon were also flooded amid torrential rain with 53mm falling in Exeter and many roads in the city left under water. Parts of the city in Heavitree, Burnthouse Lane and Middlemoor were affected.
Grant Falvey/LNP
20/11/2016 High winds at Folkestone Harbour arm,Folkestone,Kent. Folkestone Harbour arm is closed due to high winds and a scaffold staircase collapse.
Tom Harrison/Solent News & Photo Agency
A bandstand on Southsea seafront, Portsmouth, is flooded this morning. Britain is battered by Storm Angus. Strong winds and floods have caused havoc and devastation across the country.
Tom Harrison/Solent News & Photo Agency
Rocks and pebbles from Southsea beach have ended up covering sections of the roads and pavements on Southsea seafront, Portsmouth. Britain is battered by Storm Angus. Strong winds and floods have caused havoc and devastation across the country.

 

Motorists are being warned not to drive through flood water and residents in at-risk areas have been advised to contact their local councils for sandbags to protect their homes.

An amber “be prepared” warning has been issued for Devon, where the worst of the rain is expected to hit in the early hours of Monday.

Exeter had already faced more than two inches (54mm) of rainfall overnight into Sunday - more than half of what is usually expected in the area for the entire month of November.

The West Midlands, Wales and north of England are all covered by a yellow “be aware” warning, with more than two inches (60mm) of rain forecast to fall in some places.

Alison Baptiste, national flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Large parts of southern England have already experienced the impacts of Storm Angus this weekend.

“With more heavy rain on its way, people in the North and South West need to be prepared for the risk of flooding.

“Environment Agency teams have been out working through the night and we are now preparing for further flooding as rain continues over the next couple of days.

“People should remember not to drive through flood water and be aware travel may be disrupted.

“Environment Agency teams will clear blockages in rivers, continue to issue flood warnings and may operate flood gates and sea defences.”

Storm Angus, the first named storm of the season which moved off into the North Sea by about midday on Sunday, brought gusts of more than 80mph and caused power cuts for more than 1,000 homes in the South West. 

Eleven crew members had to be rescued from a cargo ship after it crashed into a stone barge off the coast of Dover and began taking on water.

The other 12 remained on board as they worked alongside the Coastguard to bring the ship into port.

Fire crews in Devon spent Sunday pumping out flooded properties and roads, and warned many of those same areas are due to be hit by wet weather again.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service station manager Martin Bayet advised people to take precautions and call 999 “if they are concerned for their safety”.

He said: “There is likely to be a lot of surface water on country roads, particularly around Braunton, so motorists should be wary of the possibility of flooded roads, take notice of road closure signs and not attempt to drive through floodwater.”

Wind speeds of up to 50mph are expected on Monday and the persistent downpours in the South West early on in the day are likely to be followed by thundery showers, the Met Office warned.