Flood defences are at risk of being breached due to record-breaking river levels, as forecasters warn of more rain over the coming days.
Low-lying areas along the River Severn are expected to be hit by severe flooding on Wednesday, with potential over-topping of defences in Ironbridge in Shropshire of high concern.
It comes as a video posted on
Twitter by an Environment Agency manager showed the Severn breaching temporary flood barriers in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on Tuesday night.LIVE - pumping operation underway behind overtopping temporary flood defences at Beales Corner #bewdleyBut Severn is still rising strongly so a fair way to go.Please avoid area and heed advice of officials. pic.twitter.com/WBCn49dngC— Dave Throup (@DaveThroupEA) February 25, 2020On Wednesday evening, the river at Bewdley is expected to come close to its highest recorded level, which was 5.56m in November 2000, the Environment Agency said.Ongoing flooding is forecast over the next few days, with
England having seen more than 200% of its average February rainfall, the agency said.
The Met Office has warned of further showers across the
UK on Wednesday, followed by even more rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
Forecaster John Griffiths said between 5mm to 10mm could fall on the River Severn’s source, the Welsh hills, throughout Wednesday, with other parts of the UK seeing up to 2mm.Wednesday will be another cold and showery day. Here's the latest 4-cast! pic.twitter.com/uQxljM3r8A— Met Office (@metoffice) February 25, 2020He said temperatures are likely to “hover around freezing” in the morning, with the west of England and the Midlands experiencing the most frequent showers.A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued until 10am on Wednesday for Northern
Ireland, west
Scotland, Wales and large swathes of England.
A further 5mm to 10mm of rain is forecast for most areas on Thursday, increasing to 10mm to 20mm in a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday morning across catchment areas in Wales, Cumbria and Yorkshire, Griffiths said.
The Environment Agency has warned flooding is possible on the rivers Wye, Ouse and Trent, with other areas at risk from localised flooding caused by heavy rainfall expected on Friday.
It comes as homes were evacuated on Tuesday after the River Aire burst its banks in Snaith, in East Yorkshire.
As of 10.30pm, two severe “danger to life” flood warnings had been issued for the Shropshire towns of Shrewsbury and Ironbridge.
The Environment Agency said there is a “potential for the Ironbridge [flood] barrier to overtop”.
A further 101 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 147 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, are also in place across the country.