The aftermath of Storm Chandra continues to impact communities across England, with nearly 150 flood alerts remaining in place as of Thursday. The Environment Agency has confirmed that while a severe 'danger to life' warning at Iford Bridge Home Park in Bournemouth has been lifted, water levels in the area remain dangerously high.
Ongoing Flood Warnings and Alerts
Across England, 66 flood warnings indicating expected flooding remain active, alongside 149 flood alerts warning of possible flooding. The situation remains particularly concerning in Somerset and Dorset, where 147 properties have already been flooded due to the storm.
Met Office Issues Further Rain Alerts
The Met Office has issued multiple yellow rain alerts for various regions. A warning spanning from noon to midnight on Thursday covers Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset, Torbay and Wiltshire.
A second yellow warning has been issued from 6am Friday until 9am Saturday for Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay. The Met Office warns that heavy rain could lead to power cuts, travel disruption and further flooding.
Somerset Declares Major Incident
Somerset has declared a major incident in response to the flooding. Bill Revans, leader of the local council, stated that teams worked "through the night" responding to reports of impassable roads.
"Our priority is to support our most vulnerable residents and to make sure people are aware that help is available," Revans emphasised.
Specific Regional Impacts
In Bournemouth, the Environment Agency has advised that while the severe flood warning for Lower Stour at Iford Bridge Home Park has been removed, water levels remain high. Evacuated residents have been urged to follow local response partners' advice about when it is safe to return.
Further Weather Warnings
A third yellow warning for rain has been issued for most of Northern Ireland, spanning from midnight to 6pm on Friday.
The Met Office predicts outbreaks of heavy rain arriving across Cornwall on Friday morning, with 10mm to 20mm rainfall likely widely and up to 30mm possible over moors and west Cornwall. Strong winds are also expected in some areas.
Coastal Warnings Issued
The RNLI has warned people to exercise caution near the coast in Devon and Cornwall, where waves up to 15 feet high could hit exposed beaches, potentially topping over seafronts and harbour walls.
As communities continue to deal with the aftermath of Storm Chandra, authorities remain on high alert, monitoring water levels and weather conditions across affected regions.
