London flooding news – live: Tube travel chaos after parts of capital receive month of rain in one day
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Your support makes all the difference.Flash flooding battered parts of London on Monday, causing delays and cancellations on the Underground network after it was calculated that a month’s worth of rain fell in parts of the capital in a single day.
Kew, in southwest London, experienced 47.8mm of rain, most of it in just one hour. The area’s average monthly rainfall in July is 44.5mm. It makes Monday the wettest day in Kew since 6 July 1983 and the third wettest day on record, according to analysis by the BBC.
While eight TfL lines were affected last night, this number had reduced to four by Tuesday with suspensions and delays said to be impacting the Circle, Hammersmith and City, District and Overground lines.
Elsewhere, there were reports of floods in Preston, northern England, and Dorset in the southwest of the country.
Are London floods linked to the climate crisis?
The Independent’s environmental correspondent Harry Cockburn explores if the flash flooding in London on Monday is linked to the climate emergency.
Are London floods linked to the climate crisis?
As average global temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold more water, worsening impacts of heavy rainfall, scientists warn
Light showers expected on Tuesday evening - Met Office
The Met Office is expecting conditions to be mostly dry with a few light showers on Tuesday evening.
The forecast is looking good for Wednesday as well with the website currently saying that Wednesday will bring ‘sunny intervals changing to cloudy by lunchtime.’
It will be a relief to many Londoners after suffering from flash-flooding on Monday after torrential rain.
120 people placed in hotels after flooding
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council have confirmed they placed 120 people in hotels after the flash-flooding that has struck London.
Consultation into London’s flood defences launched
A public consultation has been launched into a proposed Riverside Strategy in London, which aims to protect the historic Square Mile (SM) against rising sea levels as a result of climate change.
The City of London Corporation (CoLC) made the announcement after flash flooding hit parts of the capital, causing damage to iconic tube stations and streets, though the consultation is not thought to be a result of yesterday’s downpours.
It is the first of its kind in the capital, according to CoLC, and sets out how to ensure SM’s River Thames flood defences continue to remain fit for the coming century against the risk of increased flooding.
The draft plan identifies how SM’s riverside “can be transformed into an outstanding space which meets flood protection requirements and also provides wider benefits for the City’s residents, workers and visitors”. This includes a continuous Thames Path and plans to increase biodiversity in and around the water.
“We hope our approach can provide a template for other riverside authorities in the capital,” Alastair Moss, chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, said.
It comes amid fears the flash floods could be linked to the climate crisis.
Couple’s Kilburn home ‘soaking’ after ‘useless council’ refused to help with flooding
More stories now from families whose homes were affected by flash flooding.
Charity worker Catherine Harris and civil servant Ben Shingler, both aged 27, told online newspaper My London how water ruined their basement flat.
The pair who live in Kilburn, northwest London, explained how they thought the rain was “never going to end” as it swamped their back garden before spilling into their flat.
“Water was coming in through the front door, we tried to barricade it but it kept coming until it was about three inches above the skirting boards,” Ms Harris told the newspaper. “We didn’t know what to do – the council was useless. I was crying down the phone asking for help but they just didn’t deal with it. Everything is soaking and disgusting now, it smells like a pond. The floorboards and furniture will all need to be replaced.”
Mr Shingler added they were put in a hotel last night, but only because it was part of their landlord’s insurance and not due to council intervention.
He told the paper he believes the issue stemmed from blocked drains, which Brent Council are yet to publicly respond to.
London sun to return in time for weekend, says meteorologist
It looks like the sun will return to London and other parts of the UK this weekend, with a top temperature of 30C predicted for central and western areas of the capital on Sunday, according to forecasters.
London was hit by flash floods and torrential rain last night.
“High pressure will dominate this weekend to bring fine and increasingly warm weather,” Kirsty McCabe, Sky News’ meteorologist, said earlier.
The jet stream is also playing a role, returning to the north of the UK and allowing that high pressure to move in and the weather to settle down, she said.
“Most places will be dry with strong summer sunshine in the coming days,” she told viewers, adding temperatures will gradually rise – with 28 or 29C possible on Saturday.
Update on London Underground disruptions today
TfL’s advice on tube delays and suspensions, due to the floods, remains largely the same as earlier.
Here’s a reminder of where is most affected.
Circle - suspended
There is no service due to flooding on the track at Royal Oak. Underground tickets will be accepted on local bus services via any reasonable route.
District - part suspended and severe delays
Currently no service from Turnham Green, Richmond and Earl’s Court to Edgware Road / South Kensington while signalling issues caused by flooding at Gunnersbury are resolved.
Severe delays on the rest of the line, meaning London Underground tickets will be accepted on London Buses, C2C and South Western Railway. “Please use other routes to complete your journey if possible,” TfL advised.
Hammersmith and City - part suspended
Again no service, this time between Hammersmith and Edgware Road due to flooding on the track at Royal Oak. But there is good service on the rest of the line.
London Overground - part suspended, severe and minor delays
There is no service from Camden Road to Richmond / Shepherds Bush and Euston to Kilburn High Road while infrastructure damaged by flooding is repaired.
Severe delays are being experienced from Kilburn High Road to Watford Junction and Barking to Gospel Oak.
Meanwhile, there are minor delays from Highbury & Islington to West Croydon / Crystal Palace / Clapham Junction and Clapham Junction to Shepherds Bush.
All other lines have good services, according to TfL.
Family’s home in Poole ruined after sewage water flooding
A family’s home has been destroyed by sewage water flooding weeks before they were due to move, they told the BBC today.
Darren Gough’s family, who live in Poole, were among dozens to see their homes affected after flash floods in Dorset on Monday.
Mr Gough said he and his neighbours believed the flooding was caused by inadequate drainage maintenance, though the council is yet to respond.
Toilets in the Gough family home started filling with water at about 8am and a few hours later the ground floor was ankle deep in sewerage, according to the broadcaster.
Mr Gough said he had accepted an offer on his family’s house and he, his wife Harriet and their three young children were set to move to their new “dream” home in August. The house, which is in the Fleetsbridge area of Poole, was insured but the family’s move is now on hold.
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