Storm Chandra Aftermath: Further Heavy Rain Threatens to Worsen Flooding Across UK
The aftermath of Storm Chandra continues to pose significant challenges across the United Kingdom, with forecasters warning that further heavy rainfall could intensify existing flooding problems in many regions. The ground remains thoroughly saturated following the recent severe weather, creating conditions ripe for additional disruption.
Met Office Issues Yellow Rain Alerts
The Met Office has issued a yellow rain alert for Devon and Cornwall, effective from 9am on Friday through to 6am on Saturday. This warning covers an extensive area stretching from Land's End to Exeter, where the ground has already been heavily affected by previous downpours associated with Storm Chandra.
A separate yellow warning has been issued for Northern Ireland on Friday, with forecasters predicting "spells of heavy rain leading to some transport disruption and flooding in places." These alerts come as the Environment Agency reported 64 flood warnings and 150 flood alerts across England on Thursday alone.
Coastal Dangers and Wave Warnings
The RNLI has issued urgent safety advice for coastal areas in Devon and Cornwall, warning of potentially dangerous conditions along exposed beaches and harbour fronts. Steve Instance from the charity explained the particular concern: "Current forecasts for Friday are predicting wave heights between 10ft to 15ft, which isn't unusual for this time of year, however, what makes this particularly worrying is the long lull, or swell period between the waves."
He elaborated on the specific risk: "Surf forecasts are predicting a 17-second swell period. What this looks like is a gap between sets of very large, very powerful waves of up to 15 minutes. This could mean, particularly close to high tide in the middle of the day, people walking on beaches or along sea fronts will be faced with a sudden surging set of waves racing 200 metres to 300 metres up the beach, or topping over sea or harbour walls."
Regional Flooding Impacts and Response
In Somerset, the situation remains particularly concerning. Somerset Council reported that an estimated 50 properties had been affected by flooding across multiple locations including Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel. A severe flood warning, indicating danger to life, remained in place for the Lower Stour at Iford Bridge Home Park, where residents were advised to evacuate their properties "as soon as possible."
The Flooding on the Levels Action Group (Flag) has called for urgent improvements to drainage and flood alleviation systems on the Somerset Levels. The group stated: "For the third time in 12 years, residents and landowners on the Somerset Levels and moors are facing the prospect of a potential catastrophic flood. There have been many opportunities missed during this recent event that could have led to deploying the pumps earlier and relieving the stress of the local community."
Flag specifically advocated for upgrading the pumping station at Northmoor, arguing that bringing in temporary pumps costs approximately £500,000 per flood event. They emphasised: "It would be more cost effective in the long run to have permanent pumping capacity that can cope with these more frequent weather events. With the costs to the county escalating with road closures, clean-up charges and the hit to the local economy; to upgrade the pumping station would be a cheaper option for the future."
Government Response and Safety Advice
Floods minister Emma Hardy addressed the ongoing situation, stating: "Flooding is devastating and my thoughts are with the people affected. I am in regular contact with the Environment Agency on their response to the ongoing flooding in Somerset and Dorset who, alongside local authorities and the emergency services, are already taking action to keep communities safe. I urge residents to follow local advice over the next few days to ensure they stay safe."
The Environment Agency confirmed that teams were actively working on the ground, preparing to switch on pumps to remove flood water as soon as river levels permit. Ultra high-volume pumps have already been deployed in Northmoor and Saltmoor on the Somerset Levels as part of the emergency response.
Tragic Incident and Wider Weather Impact
In a tragic development, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a body had been recovered from the River Exe during the search for a kayaker who reportedly got into difficulty near Great Western Bridge in Tiverton on Saturday afternoon. Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of the missing man, aged in his 40s, has been informed of this development.
The weather disruption extends beyond England, with three flood alerts currently in place for Wales and three flood warnings plus two flood alerts active in Scotland. Storm Chandra represents the latest named storm from the western Europe storm naming group list, which is shared between the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.
As the UK braces for further rainfall, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with particular attention to already vulnerable areas where ground saturation has reached critical levels following the passage of Storm Chandra.
