1 200 evacuated, 147 warnings posted as severe weather batters UK

About 1 200 homes have been evacuated in South Yorkshire due to severe flooding across England on Thursday, November 14, 2019.  147 warnings have been posted by the Environment Agency in which prompt action is required.

Almost 50 mm (2 inches) of rain fell within a 24-hour period near Tal-y-Maes, Wales, Herefordshire, and Brecknockshire to Thursday evening, November 14.

174 alerts have also been issued, warning residents of further flooding, covering much of England. Reports said they are in force across the south, from Cornwall to Kent, from Chester in the north-west to areas north of Norwich and regions to the east of York, and most portions in between.

EA is coordinating with emergency responders and local officials to safeguard people and properties in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire. The agency said 14 400 properties had been protected. 300 staff had been working around the clock in several parts of the country, deploying pumps to disperse water through five of the worst-affected sites.

According to the Met Office's forecast for Friday, November 15, rain would be persistent but not as heavy as the previous days. Rain will continue through Saturday in England and southern Scotland, bringing severe flooding to areas already affected by rising water levels including communities in South Yorkshire around the Lower River Don.

Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said, "There will be a band of rain across northern England and Wales on Saturday morning, however across the sough east will be dry. There will be further rain on Sunday, again with northern England and Scotland in the firing line for the heaviest downpours."

He added, "From Tuesday next week another low-pressure system comes in from the southwest and this is going to bring more rain which could be problematic given the flooding issues across parts of the country."

"We are looking at more of what we have already seen with the main risk being from rainfall, although it will be windy. It is looking as though we will return to a more unsettled weather pattern from the middle of next week."

Featured image credit: Gov.UK