Flood warnings in place across England and Wales as heavy rain and strong winds

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Schools have been compelled to shut and rail passengers confronted disruption as heavy rain swept across a lot of England and Wales, leaving many areas going through flood warnings and alerts.

The downpours on Wednesday, falling on already sodden floor, led to roads being closed and rivers bursting their banks.

Met Office specialists had issued three yellow warnings for rain, masking most of southern, southwestern, central and jap England, as nicely as elements of south Wales.

They had warned of the potential for journey disruption, energy cuts and harmful situations close to coasts.

On Thursday night time, the Environment Agency issued 73 flood warnings, that means flooding is predicted, and 274 flood alerts in England. National Resources Wales issued two flood warnings and 22 flood alerts.

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, a number of faculties closed due to rising flood ranges and treacherous highway situations, councils mentioned.

In Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury Borough Council distributed sandbags to house owners. Various roads in the county have been closed due to flooding.

An estimated 30mm-40mm of rainfall – a few week’s price – got here down in the East Midlands, east of England, London and southeast England, the southwest and West Midlands.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen mentioned: “This is falling on saturated ground, which elevates the chances of flooding and disruption.”

Many roads across the West Midlands in specific have been submerged and rail operators labored to attempt to get companies working once more.

Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway companies operated a substitute bus service between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

Flooding halted CrossCountry rail companies between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa for a time, though passengers have been warned of extra cancellations or delays.

Great Western Railway mentioned flooding had disrupted companies between Plymouth and Newton Abbot, with CrossCountry trains from Penzance additionally affected.

Met Office transport forecasters issued 20 gale warnings for sea areas together with Plymouth, Thames, Wight and Dover.

Red Funnel Ferries warned that prime winds may disrupt its service between Southampton and West Cowes, whereas WightHyperlink ferry journeys between Portsmouth and Fishbourne have been cancelled or delayed by 4 hours.

In Cornwall, St Mawes Ferry, which hyperlinks St Mawes with Falmouth, was cancelled due to “adverse sea conditions and strong winds”.

Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, mentioned: “The current forecast contains a typical mix of winter weather, including strong winds and heavy rain.

“In themselves these conditions aren’t exceptional, but following on from significant amounts of rainfall across February, then the cumulative effect means that river catchments are more sensitive to additional rainfall.

“During these warning periods we urge people to follow sensible advice and keep up to date with the warnings and the forecast.”

Friday is predicted be breezy. Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill mentioned that “a fair amount of rain” was prone to push across southern elements and probably into central England and Wales, whereas additional north it will be largely dry.

Temperatures are forecast to be decrease, extra in direction of common for the time of yr.

He mentioned showers ought to scale back by means of Saturday, giving most areas a drier spell, earlier than rain returns from Tuesday.