Many roads are closed due to flooding including parts of the M1. (Photo courtesy of the BBC)
Relentless, heavy rainfall has forced stretches of the M1 and many others A class roads to shut due to flooding today. According to the BBC, one man was rescued as his car became stuck in flood waters in Waterloovile, Hampshire. At the seafront in Littlehampton, West Sussex homes were hard hit with floodwaters 4 ft deep and even as far north as Boroughbidge in North Yorkshire as many as 15 homes experienced flooding. In Athersley, South Yorkshire some 12 homes had to get pumped out. Flooding in southwest London disrupted train services. This information is according to the BBC.
NEARLY STALLED LOW PUMPING WARM, MOIST AIR NORTH INTO A COLDER UPPER LEVEL ENVIRONMENT OVER ENGLAND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEAVY AND PERSISTENT DAY-LONG RAINS
[warning]A FURTHER 1-2 INCHES OF RAIN MAY BE ADDED TO ALREADY HIGH TOTALS OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS ACROSS THE SOUTH[/warning]
Blame an area of low pressure spinning over the north coast of France which is feeding warm, moist air north into a much cooler upper level environment over southern England. This creates the perfect set up for heavy rains and the near ‘stalled’ nature of the system and it’s frontal boundary means not only is the rain heavy but persistent and that is causing all the problems we’re seeing with widespread flooding and rain totals which have easily reached 1-2 inches with possibly even a widespread 2-3 inches.
Unfortunately the next 12 hours still has a lot of rain to fall with a further 1-2 inches possible in some areas which have already seen over 2 inches. When all is said and done, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of 4 inch reports, especially if we see thunderstorms develop on the very unstable outer edges of the main rain shield. This rain will slide back to where it came from, towards the southeast but it’s going to take time working southeast and that is the big issue.
I do fear thunderstorms developing from Birmingham to London where there has been flooding. These strong, intense and highly isolated cells can bring 1-2 inch per hour rains and have this fall in an area already seeing flooding and perhaps 2 inches of rain may cause flash flooding.
Don’t be surprised to hear more and more reports of flooding throughout tonight.
If you live in the South of England, keep abreast of this situation, especially if you live near a river.
Recent Comments