2 months’ worth of rain in 48 hours triggers floods, disrupts travel, UK

Parts of central United Kingdom recorded double the amount of rain that typically falls during the entire month of June in two days. In the 48 hours ending on the morning of June 12, 2019, a total of 107.2 mm (4.22 inches) flooded Holbeach in Lincolnshire. The town receives an average of 53.2 mm (2.09 inches) during the entire month.

Rainfall totals during this time in Lincolnshire included 122.8 mm (4.83 inches) at Stenigot and 99.2 mm (3.90 inches) at Tetford, according to data from the UK Met Office.

Hawarden in northeastern Wales usually received 59.2 mm (2.33 inches) each June but recorded 66.8 mm (2.63 inches) from the night of June 10 to the morning of June 12.

Ham Hill and Eynsford were among the wettest locations in Kent on June 10, with 94.6 mm (3.72 inches) and 90.1 mm (3.55 inches), respectively.

The number of flash flooding incidents continued to mount across the U.K. as rainfall totals increased, AccuWeather reports.

The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue responded to more than 100 flood-related calls on June 11.

River Waring overflowed its banks on low-lying land causing the roads to flood in Horncastle. The level of the river at Horncastle Banks Road peaked at 1.33 m (4.36 feet) during the early afternoon of Tuesday. Minor flood stage is 0.68 m (2.23 feet).

The M25 in Kent was temporarily closed in both directions, after two sinkholes opened, according to BBC News. Travel chaos also extended to railways.

Many rivers throughout the Midlands, Wales and England rose above minor flooding stage, AccuWeather says.

A total of 34 mm (1.34 inches) of rain was recorded at London's Heathrow Airport in the 24 hours ending on the morning of June 11.

The rain disrupted road, rail and air traffic. 

The 14:34 London to Nottingham service on Thursday, June 13 was stopped due to a landslip near Corby, Northamptonshire, forcing about 500 passengers to spend 8 hours on the trains before they were rescued, BBC reports.

A break in a river bank caused severe flooding at Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire, forcing evacuation of 100 people on the same day.

The Environment Agency has issued dozens of flood warning and alerts across the country, mostly across the Midlands and North West, and extending as far as Northumberland and Christchurch in Dorset.

Matti Kukkola

This author does not have any more posts.