Boris Johnson is facing calls to declare a ‘national emergency’ as Britain battles more widespread flooding and travel chaos in the wake of Storm Dennis, with forecasters still warning of a further four days of rain this week.
Communities are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches are expected to fall within 24 hours in parts of Wales and north-western England that have already been submerged by the storm.
Flood-hit York, as well as Sheffield and Leeds, faces up to another three inches of rain throughout Friday, which the Met Office say won’t relent until the early hours of Saturday.
There are still 350 flood alerts in place nationwide – including seven ‘danger to life’ warnings – with the Environment Agency claiming large parts of Britain are now in ‘uncharted territory’ in terms of flooding.
Thousands have been evacuated from their homes and five people have died after being struck by fallen trees or swept away in the deluge.
Among the worst affected areas are Yorkshire, South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, where major incidents have been declared.
The Prime Minister has so far resisted calls to call a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee and has no plans to visit any of the areas devastated by flooding.
An aerial view of Worcester today where vast areas of the city, sit submerged in water in the aftermath of Storm Dennis
A DPD delivery van is marooned in flood water caused by Storm Dennis in Fordingbridge, Hampshire today, as rain water continues to fall across the UK
The Prime Minister has resisted calls to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra to tackle the flooding crisis, despite criticism from locals in the worst-affected areas (shown)
A canoeist makes their way towards Lidl in Monmouth, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis that has wrecked havoc on parts of the UK
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for snow and ice across large swathes of Scotland (shown is Carrbridge in the Highlands) today, with commuters told to expect treacherous conditions on the roads
There are still more than 400 flood alerts still in place across the country – including nine ‘danger to life’ warnings – with the Environment Agency saying rivers had swelled to ‘exceptional’ levels in parts of Britain
Britain is facing another day of widespread flooding and travel chaos in the wake of Storm Dennis as forecasters warned of a three-day deluge of rain and ice
Environmental scientist Angela Terry told the Mirror: ‘As a country we are not preparing. Sending the army to fill sandbags is a sticking plaster.’
‘As temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold more water so downpours are more intense – 7 per cent more for every degree celsius temperature increase – so flooding will increase. We are currently in a national emergency.’
Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard said it was a ‘disgrace’ that Mr Johnson had ‘refused’ to visit affected communities.
Around 1,000 staff were on duty, with more than three miles of flood barriers deployed and 90 pumps in action, the EA said.
It warned the flood risk continues, with further heavy rain forecast in the North of England for Wednesday and Thursday, possibly falling on already flooded areas.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said Tuesday will bring a brief respite from the worst of the weather for most of the UK, with sunny spells and showers, but warned areas of Wales could see downpours.
‘With the ground being so saturated, it’s not going to help the situation,’ he said.
It comes as a woman who was swept away by floodwater near Tenbury in Worcestershire on Sunday was found dead on Monday.
A statement from the family of Yvonne Booth, 55, from the Great Barr area of Birmingham, said: ‘Yvonne is a very much loved member of our family and we are all devastated by this news.
‘We appreciate the continued support from the emergency services. We would like to ask for our privacy at this time.’
The Prime Minister resisted calls to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee, Cobra, to tackle the flooding crisis, despite criticism from the Labour Party.
Luke Pollard, shadow environment secretary, said it was a ‘disgrace’ that Boris Johnson had ‘refused’ to visit affected communities.
West Mercia Police said residents in Upton upon Severn and Uckinghall, in Worcestershire, were advised to evacuate, with water levels expected to peak on Monday evening.
Mountain Rescue team members rescue an elderly resident called Peter Morgan from his house where he has lived his whole life, after it flooded in Monmouth, South Wales today
River levels remain high at the Worcester river gauge as a result of Storm Dennis. Consequently, flooding of property and roads is expected to continue
Photographer Simon Emmett inadvertently captures the face of a witch in the raging waves at Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis, Dorset
The village of Carrbridge, near Inverness, is pictured this morning as blizzards hit the Scottish Highlands today as the Met Office issued warnings for snow showers
Rain is expected to fall during today’s morning rush hour (left). Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued warnings for snow and ice across large swathes of Scotland today (right), with commuters told to expect treacherous conditions on the roads
Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire today. Boris Johnson is facing calls to declare a ‘national emergency’ with Britain facing another day of widespread flooding and travel chaos in the wake of Storm Dennis
Pumps attempt to dump water out of a road on the banks of the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire today, where some properties were flooded yesterday
The Met Office issued snow warnings for Scotland today, while rain warnings have been put in place for Wales for Wednesday, with additional warnings expected to be issued for north-western England
Emergency evacuations were carried out in Hereford, where the River Wye reached its highest level on record.
And homes in Monmouth were evacuated after Natural Resources Wales issued two severe ‘danger to life’ flood warnings for the River Wye in the town, with the water level expected to peak between 3am and 7am on Tuesday.
On Monday night, nine severe flood warnings were in place, including those for the River Trent at Burton upon Trent; the River Wye at Blackmarstone in Hereford, and at Hampton Bishop; the River Severn at Uckinghall and at New Street and Waterside in Upton upon Severn; and the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop.
Around 1,000 staff were on duty, with 5km of flood barriers deployed and 90 pumps in action, the EA said.
It warned the flood risk continues, with further heavy rain forecast in the north of England for Wednesday and Thursday, possibly falling on already flooded areas.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said Tuesday will bring a brief respite from the worst of the weather for most of the UK, with sunny spells and showers, but warned areas of Wales could see downpours.
‘With the ground being so saturated it’s not going to help the situation,’ he said.
‘And there’s more persistent rain coming on Wednesday. There will be wet and windy weather across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday… with the heavy rain coming back.’
A graphic shows measures in put in place in recent years to protect vulnerable areas from flooding (left) and those planned for the future (right)
A pub attempts to flush water out on the banks of the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire following widespread flooding brought on by Storm Dennis