The Environment Agency has cautioned drivers that vehicles can be swept away by just 30cm (12 inches) of water, as over 60 flood warnings were issued across England following heavy overnight rain, with more downpours expected.
This comes as commuters across the UK are facing travel disruption as many train lines and motorways have been left submerged in water.
Trains passing through Shropshire were halted by flooding at Wellington station, which resembled a Venice canal after heavy rain submerged the tracks. Flooding also disrupted services to and from Aberystwyth in West Wales, as well as on the Chiltern Main Line in Oxfordshire between Banbury and Bicester North.
In Gloucestershire, Avon Fire and Rescue Service collaborated with National Highways to rescue people stranded on the M5 after heavy rain flooded the motorway.
The road was closed northbound between J16 and J14, and southbound between J14 and J15 this morning as emergency services worked to clear the floodwaters.
On the other hand, severe flooding in Birmingham has led to widespread road closures and disruption to schools, trains, and more. At least five schools in Birmingham will be closed today after being flooded in the heavy rain. Parents have been warned not to bring their children to the schools today (Friday, September 27) while clean-up operations take place.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service warned drivers not to travel unless it was ‘absolutely necessary’. They shared on X: “There are flood alerts across parts of the West Midlands so please stay safe. Do not drive through flood water. Slow down in heavy rain. Increase distances and slow down. Only travel if it is absolutely necessary.”
It comes as the Met Office issueda severe amber warning for heavy rain cascading over areas of the Midlands and south of the country potentially bringing flooding misery for millions.
The alert came into force at 6pm on Thursday and will last for 12 hours. Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland.
Areas affected by the amber warning – including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands – could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster.
The Met Office uses a traffic light system of warnings, with yellow, amber and red, with the latter being the most extreme. This is the first time an amber warning has been issued for flooding and heavy rain this autumn.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is also forecasting that much of the South East could see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”. This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.
The Met Office said: “This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.”
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If you’ve been affected by the adverse weather conditions and want to share your story and photos, please email astha.saxena@reachplc.com
