UK floods latest: Major travel disruption as Storm Bert leaves more than 150 flood warnings in place
More than 150 flood warnings remain in place for England and Wales and travel issues are set to continue
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Your support makes all the difference.Storm Bert will continue to cause travel disruptions today due to several rail lines being shut following “devastating” flooding over the weekend.
Rail passengers have been urged not to travel between Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Stansted Airport as major disruption is expected until 2pm.
Great Western Railway, which runs services between London and the West, has been forced to suspend many of its journeys telling passengers to “not attempt to travel on any routes.”
At least five deaths have been reported in England and Wales since Storm Bert hit as the heavy rainfall and thawed snow put more than 400 areas in the UK at risk of flooding. A body was found on Sunday in the search for a 75-year-old man missing in the River Conwy, another man in his 60s died after a tree fell on his car on the A34 near Winchester, Hampshire. Three others have died in fatal motor-related incidents.
The second named storm of the season brought nearly a month’s worth of rainfall in less than 48 hours, with winds of up to 82mph recorded, causing chaos for those travelling by road and rail. More than 150 flood alerts remain in place for England and Wales and travel issues are set to continue into the new week.
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Met Office warnings ‘could be amended at short notice'
Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page has warned that the forecaster could make rapid changes to weather alerts as Storm Bert continues to batter the UK.
“Impacts from Storm Bert will continue to cause disruption as we go through today, and multiple warnings are in place for wind and rain,” he said.
“While the risk of any snowfall has now diminished, rainfall will affect much of the UK today, in particular some southwestern parts of England and South Wales, but the heaviest rain will ease from these areas through the day.
“The strong southerly winds continue today and warnings are in place for central, southern and eastern England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland where gusts could peak at 60 mph and could even reach more than 70 mph along some exposed coasts.
“Warnings could still be amended, possibly at short notice, so it is important people keep up to date with the very latest forecast.”
Bridge damaged during Storm Dennis now completely washed away
An entire bridge under construction after being damaged four years ago during Storm Dennis was washed away during widespread floods in Wales on Saturday night.
The Abercynon Feeder Pipe Footbridge over the River Taff in South Wales, which was being rebuilt after being substantially damaged during Storm Dennis in 2020, was completely washed away, councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council, said.
“It was completely washed away last night, so the scaffolding, the piers ... everything has completely gone,” Mr Morgan told a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
London attractions and parks closed in strong winds
As windy conditions persist, some attractions have been closed.
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is closed on Sunday and all of London’s Royal Parks, including Greenwich Park and Primrose Hill, are shut.
GoFundMe page set up for flood victims in south Wales
A local MP has set up a GoFundMe page to help people affected by the flooding in south Wales, where hundreds of properties have been submerged.
Pictured: Firefighters earlier pumping water from Pontypridd street
‘Danger to life' flood warnings issued near Monmouth
Natural Resource Wales has issued two severe “danger to life” flood warnings along the River Monnow, near Monmouth.
The agency has issued a further 51 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and 45 alerts, where flooding is possible.
Man dies after car entered water in Lancashire on Saturday
A man in his 80s has died after his car entered water near Colne on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, Lancashire Police said the man was recovered from the water on Cockhill Lane, Foulridge, shortly after 4.15pm but was later pronounced dead at hospital.
A woman in her 80s was also taken to hospital and her condition is not believed to be life-threatening.
It is unclear whether the death was related to Storm Bert, which has caused flooding across parts of the UK this weekend.
Welsh First Minister says ‘difficult weekend’ has been ‘devastating’ for those hit by flooding
The Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said it has been “a really difficult weekend” and it is “absolutely devastating” for those affected by flooding after Storm Bert hit.
Speaking to broadcasters, Baroness Morgan said: “It’s been a really difficult weekend, and I’d like to thank the emergency services for all the support they’re giving to the people affected.
“I think this is the second time that many of those have suffered as a result of the storm. There’s been huge investments since the last storm hit, so we’ve managed to protect lots more properties than last time. But obviously this is absolutely devastating, just before Christmas for those people who have been impacted.”
Asked if there will be emergency funding available to help people, she said discussions have already started, adding “and of course, we will do everything we need to do to put measures in place to support people who’ve undergone this really, really difficult situation”.
She added that they have put “hundreds of millions of pounds” into flood defences over the past few years, which is helping to protect about 250,000 homes, but “clearly, climate change is going to impact on us, and there will come a point when it will be too difficult for us to protect every home in the country but clearly, we want to put the support in place if we’re able to do that for the people impacted”.
Resident of flood-hit Pontypridd fears home could flood overnight
A resident of a town in South Wales that has been affected by the flooding fears her home could flood overnight.
Claire Instrell, whose home in Pontypridd was flooded four years ago but has avoided water this time, said: “At eight o’clock this morning, I got knocked up out of bed.
“The neighbours were going around locking everyone’s gates last night.
“The council, Natural Resources Wales, haven’t done anything, nothing at all.”
She said she did not want to sleep in her home on Sunday evening because she worried water could come in during the night.
PM says he has spoken to Welsh first minister and is receiving updates as Storm Bert develops
The prime minister has said he has spoken to the Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan about the flooding in Wales and added that he is receiving updates on Storm Bert as it develops.
Sir Keir Starmer posted on X saying: “I’ve spoken with @PrifWeinidog about the severe weather and flooding in Wales.
“Thank you to the emergency services who are working tirelessly to protect communities — my thoughts are with those impacted.
“I’m receiving updates on Storm Bert as it develops across the UK.”
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