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 as forecasters warned of a three-day deluge of rain and ice.
Communities are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches of rain are expected to fall within 24 hours in parts of Wales and north-western England that are already submerged by the storm.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for snow and ice across large swathes of Scotland 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 seven ‘danger to life’ warnings – with the Environment Agency saying rivers had swelled to ‘exceptional’ levels in parts of Britain.
Communities across the country are still counting the cost of the weekend’s storm, which has so far left five people dead and hundreds of properties flooded.
Among the worst affected areas were South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire where major incidents were declared.
However Mr Johnson has been urged to declare a nationwide emergency as furious locals hit by extreme floods slammed the Prime Minister after it was revealed he has no plans to visit the worst affected areas.
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
Shocking drone pictures show the devastating scale of flooding the Welsh village of Crickhowell after the River Usk burst its banks
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
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.’
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.
There are still more than 400 flood alerts still in place across the country – including seven ‘danger to life’ warnings – with the Environment Agency saying rivers had swelled to ‘exceptional’ levels in parts of Britain
Flooding at Ross on Wye after the river Wye burst its banks. Communities are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches of rain are expected to fall within 24 hours in parts of Wales that are already submerged by the storm
Laura Court mops up the floor of Lougos hair dressers in Oxford Street, Nantgarw after widespread flooding throughout south Wales
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, seven severe flood warnings from the EA were in place in England 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.’
The River Ouse burst its banks over the weekend, leaving large swathes of the Cambridgeshire market town of St Ives underwater