Persistent heavy rainfall continues to batter London and the wider UK, prompting the Met Office to issue a yellow weather alert. The warning, which remains in effect on Friday, September 6, 2024, warns of relentless downpours and the potential for flooding in various regions.
The Environment Agency (EA) has issued a flood warning along the Thames, specifically from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weir in west London. The EA cautions that high tides, particularly around 5:30 pm, will increase the risk of flooding. Residents across London and the west of England are urged to be prepared for potential flooding.
The EA attributes the heightened risk to “spring tides,” and advises caution near the Lower Avon river in south-west England. Residents in areas like Ringwood, Christchurch, and Moyles Court are recommended to activate any property flood protection products as necessary due to the potential for rising water levels.
Devon is also on alert for potential flooding, particularly on low-lying land and roads near the rivers Clyst and Culm. The alert remains active from Friday evening into Saturday. Additionally, a flood alert is active for Scrase Bridge and West Common Streams near Haywards Heath in West Sussex. While both rivers returned to near-normal levels following Thursday’s intense rainfall, the EA warns that additional showers could lead to a rapid rise in river levels, potentially resulting in flooding.
Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, emphasized that southern England and South Wales remain under particular scrutiny due to the ongoing yellow weather alert.
The adverse weather has also caused significant disruption at major airports. Heathrow, the busiest airport in the UK, experienced numerous cancellations and delays to inbound and outbound flights. British Airways alone had canceled several flights to major European destinations including Barcelona, Stockholm, Paris, Manchester, Brussels, Oslo, Bucharest, Split, Milan, Prague, Marseille, Dusseldorf, and Nice before midday on Friday. As of Friday, 243 flights were delayed, and 34 were canceled at Heathrow alone.
Officials warn of the potential for further disruption, including power cuts, flooding in homes and businesses, isolated communities, and travel chaos caused by lightning strikes across northern parts of the alert area. There is a small chance that fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life.
