Storm Dennis: One dead and four major incidents declared amid severe flooding
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Your support makes all the difference.The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for Wales as Storm Dennis unleashed torrential rain over the UK.
One man died after being pulled from the River Tawe near Swansea but police said it was not related to the weather.
The Environment Agency said that a record number of flood alerts were in force on Sunday, including severe warnings for the River Teme in mid Wales.
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A bowling club in Taff's Well, north of Cardiff, has been almost completely submerged in floodwaters.
The Taff's Well Bowls Club was flooded after the River Taff burst its banks on Sunday due to Storm Dennis. Only the roof of the building can be seen above water.
Other Welsh bowling clubs have expressed their sympathies for Taff's Well Bowls Club and its members.
Police are searching for a woman who was seen going into the water at the beach in Brighton.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "At 0245 on Sunday, today February 16, police received a report that a woman, believed to be in her early 20s, had been seen to enter the water from the beach at Brighton opposite Kings Road.
"She's not so far been found despite an extensive search during the hours of darkness in both sea and on shore by emergency services including Coastguard, Sussex Police and Brighton Beach Patrol staff.
"The weather has been very bad, with rain and high winds. The circumstances are currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious."
A building has collapsed in Herne Bay, Kent, after gale-force winds up to 60 mph tore through the seaside town.
Debris including bricks and tiles fell on parked cars below, crushing the trunk of one of the cars.
The building was located on Canterbury Road.
Bricks and debris cover damaged cars after part of a building collapsed in Herne Bay, south east England (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
South Wales Police have declared a major incident due to flooding and severe weather-related incidents on Sunday after a series of "serious disruption" across the region.
The force said it is in the midst of coordinating a "multi-agency response" to deal with "multiple floods and landslides".
"The emergency services, jointly with local authority planning departments, local health boards, and organisations such as Mountain Rescue, Natural Resources Wales and utility companies, are working continuously to ensure the safety and welfare of those affected, minimise damage to infrastructure and property, and minimise disruption," said the force in a statement.
"Agencies are continuing to deal with multiple floods and landslides, and have been required to evacuate residents from houses.
"Some communities have been cut off as a result but emergency service workers are working tirelessly to put measures in place to ensure the safety of residents."
Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Gilmer said: "I would like to reassure the public who have been affected that we are doing everything we can, and will continue to work tirelessly until all risks dissipate.
"I would like to thank all our emergency services and rescue partners for their assistance and professionalism. I have very clear advice for everybody, which is not to panic, and to be sensible - stay well clear of any danger such as streams and rivers and contact us in an emergency."
Water levels at the River Monnow in Monmouth have breached the previous highest level record of 6.16m, hitting 6.36m as of 1.15pm on Sunday.
According to River Levels, which lists all monitoring stations across England Scotland and Wales, the previous record for River Monnow was made on 13 December 2000.
Currently, 746 other locations are being recorded as above normal and rising. Water levels at River Monnow are also expected to rise.
Major incidents have been declared in the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire due to widespread flooding from rising river levels.
Emergency services, including Herefordshire Council, West Mercia Police, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue, Environment Agency and health partners are working to support residents.
River levels are expected to peak later in the day.
Herefordshire Council is opening rest centres to shelter residents who have had to be evacuated from flooded properties.
"Please do not put yourself at unnecessary risk - avoid any unnecessary travel and do not enter flood water," said the council. "Please check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable.
"We are concentrating our efforts to ensure vulnerable residents are evacuated where needed and rest centres are being set up for any residents that need to be evacuated."
The West Midlands Ambulance Service said all of their 30 4x4 ambulances are available to respond to flood-related incidents.
A spokesman for the service said: "It is vital that the public allow the emergency services and their partners to deal with the situation. Please help us by not putting yourself at risk by travelling unless absolutely necessary.
"For drivers, please do not drive through flood waters; we have already seen numerous cases of cars becoming stranded. It takes remarkably little water to put you and your car at risk."
The Environment Agency has urged people to "remain vigilant" and stay up to date on flood warnings as Storm Dennis shows no sign of letting up.
Persistent, heavy rain is due to fall across the South of England and there is more unsettled weather to come.
The agency added: "Significant river and surface water flooding is expected to continue with river levels remaining high especially in York, West Midlands, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the South of England."
The warning comes as major incidents have been declared in south Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire amid severe flooding after the River Teme burst its banks.
Today, the Environment Agency issued over 600 flood warnings and flood alerts across England, more than any other day on record.
Caroline Douglass, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Storm Dennis will continue to bring disruptive weather into early next week, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England. We urge people to check the flood risk in their area and remain vigilant.
“We have teams out across England today, working closely with Police, Fire and Rescue, local authorities and partners to reduce the risk of flooding and keep communities safe. We have put up more than 3.5km of temporary barriers across the country and are ready to operate large defences as required.
“With the effects of climate change, we are seeing more frequent periods of extreme weather. It is important for people to be aware of their flood risk and stay safe by signing up for flood warnings, making a flood plan and remembering not to drive or walk through flood water – it’s not worth the risk."
Well over a month's worth of rain has fallen in Wales, according to records from the Met Office.
In 48 hours, 157.6 mm of rainfall was recorded in Crai Resr, followed by 157.0 mm in Maerdy.
Wind gusts reaching 91 mph were also recorded in Aberdaron.
The average amount of rain for the month of February in Wales is 111.1 mm.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has said during an interview with Sky News that it is not anticipated a national emergency will be declared over Storm Dennis in the coming days.
He said: "This weather system, the rain, is working its way through and will peter out, and what we will see is rising river levels, probably over the next two to three days, and we'll be keeping a close eye on that.
"But we're not expecting any more heavy rain the likes of which we've had this weekend until at least next weekend, so there will be some respite.
"But it is the case that across the country, land is very sodden with water, there's a lot of water around, our rivers across the country are running at very, very high levels and so the ability to cope with heavy rain such as we've had in the last ten days in particular is certainly more challenging."
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