The Environment Agency is warning communities to stay vigilant while flood risk continues for the next few days in parts of England, with ongoing flooding expected in some areas due to recent extreme weather and some further flooding possible as more rain is expected.
Flood warning sign on a closed country road next to waterlogged fields, Avon Valley Hampshire
The warning comes despite the fact that the heavy rainfall of recent days and Storm Bella have now passed, although river levels in some areas remain high as water makes its way through catchments.
In particular, the EA said the Great Ouse river in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire remains exceptionally high, some areas remain flooded and further flooding is possible as the flood peak travels downstream over the next two days.
Since the last major flood in the area in 1998, Environment Agency flood defences have been constructed in towns including Bedford, Godmanchester and St Ives, which are helping to protect many homes from flooding. Severe flood warnings in Northampton and Bedford have now been removed.
This morning there are currently 86 Flood Warnings in place, meaning that flooding is expected; and 152 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, in places across the country. A total of 103 flood warnings and alerts have been removed in the last 24 hours.
The Agency said that across England, approximately 9,000 properties have been protected by Environment Agency flood defences, with Environment Agency teams also out on the ground deploying defences, operating pumps and working with the emergency services and partners to reduce the risk for communities across the country.
Neil Davies, the Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
“Heavy and persistent rainfall in recent days has led to surface water and river flooding in some communities particularly in central and east England, including around the Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire yesterday.
“The flood risk will remain in impacted areas over the next few days as river levels are still high.”
The EA is urging people to keep away from swollen rivers and flooded land and not to drive through flood water.
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