Flooding has already impacted hundreds of properties across the UK(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Flood warnings across UK as roads swamped by water and travel delays hit Britain

Weather experts have warned people not to drive through deep waters as Environment Agency representatives issue several hundred collected alerts for the UK this week

by · The Mirror

Flood warnings coming into affect for vast swathes of the UK from today will impact thousands of people across the country, who will have to reckon with massive travel delays and a host of other issues.

Rain has streaked across the country for the last week, causing widespread flooding and general doom and gloom for Britons as summer turns to autumn. The Met Office has warned that rainfall could become particularly intense, with bursts of between 60mm and 80mm (2.6 to 3.1 inches) expected in some areas.

The forecasters have issued two comparatively limited warnings for the northeast Midlands and northeast England between Monday and Tuesday, but flooding is expected to be much more widespread. The Environment Agency has stepped in as flooding appears set to impact hundreds of areas.

Environment Agency personnel have warned people not to drive through floodwater that develops this week( Image: Liverpool Echo)

The agency has issued 52 flood warnings, indicating that flooding is "expected", and an additional 155 flood alerts. While they aren't quite as severe as warnings, flood alerts indicate that people should prepare as "flooding is possible" in those several dozen areas.

The Met Office has a warning of its own covering the Midlands and northern England between 8am on Monday to 3am on Tuesday. The warning states: "An area of rain, heavy in places, will affect parts of the north-east Midlands and east and northeast England during Monday, before clearing overnight.

"There is significant uncertainty in the amount of rainfall and location of the largest totals, but 20 to 40mm of rain could fall quite widely with a chance that a few places could see 60 to 80mm. Strong northeasterly winds will accompany the rain." While water settling on surfaces will cause some trouble for people travelling in the UK, the flooding will mostly impact low-lying areas near minor and major rivers.

Several hundred properties have been affected by the recent floods( Image: Liverpool Echo)

Several areas have already been impacted in recent days following severe rainfall, with around 650 properties flooding in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and some of the home counties. The Environment Agency estimates that around 8,200 properties were protected from the deluge.

Mark Garratt, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, told Sky News that people should ensure they don't drive through floodwaters. He said: "It is especially important that people do not drive through flood water - it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.

"Across the country, Environment Agency teams have been out checking flood defences and clearing any debris from storm drains and are also supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. The advice to the public to keep checking their flood risk, and search 'check for flooding' and to sign up for free flood warnings on the latest situation or follow @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates."

Flood warnings - full list

  • Alfriston on the Cuckmere River
  • Areas close to the River Great Ouse at Wyboston, Eaton Socon, Eynesbury, Eaton Ford, and St Neots
  • Areas near the River Nene from Elton to Wansford
  • Areas near the River Nene from Thorpe Waterville to Eaglethorpe
  • Ash Brook, Ippollitts Brook and River Purwell at Hitchin, Ashbrook, Little Wymondley and Graveley
  • B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road to the South of the River Nene
  • Bessy Brook at Lostock
  • Black Brook at Chorley, south Temple Fields
  • Cogenhoe Mill Caravan Site
  • Fouracres and The Crescent at Maghull
  • Lower Frome from Dorchester to East Stoke
  • Lower Frome from East Stoke to Wareham
  • Low lying areas close to the River Great Ouse at Bedford
  • Low lying areas close to the River Great Ouse at Kempston
  • Low lying areas close to the River Great Ouse at Stony Stratford
  • Middle Stour from Hammoon to Sturminster Marshall
  • New Mill Dike at Lydgate and New Mill
  • North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice
  • River Anker at Mancetter, Witherley and Atherstone
  • River Douglas at Parbold, along the right bank of the river downstream of the Canal Bridge
  • River Great Ouse at Brampton and Godmanchester
  • River Great Ouse at Harrold
  • River Great Ouse at Huntingdon and Hartford
  • River Great Ouse at Little Paxton and Great Paxton
  • River Great Ouse at Odell
  • River Great Ouse at Southoe, Buckden and The Offords
  • River Great Ouse at Turvey
  • River Irk at Chadderton Fold
  • River Irk at Cheetham Hill
  • River Irk at Crumpsall Hospital
  • River Irk at Kendall Road
  • River Irk at Little Green
  • River Irk at New Bridge
  • River Irk at Rhodes and Middleton
  • River Irk at Vale Park Industrial Estate
  • River Ivel at Blunham
  • River Ivel at Sandy
  • River Maun at Edwinstowe and Ollerton
  • River Maun at Sherwood Forest Caravan Park near Kings Clipstone
  • River Ray for Islip
  • River Ray from the Heath Bridge area to and including the Otmoor Basin
  • River Rother and Smithy Brook at Renishaw
  • River Rother at Beighton
  • River Rother at Tapton
  • River Rother at Woodhouse Mill
  • Rivers Stour and Iwerne at Stourpaine
  • River Thame from Chiselhampton to Drayton St Leonard
  • River Tove at Towcester and Cosgrove
  • River Whitting at Old Whittington and Sheepbridge, including Barlow Brook
  • River Wreake at Frisby-on-the-Wreake
  • River Wreake for mills at Hoby, Thrussington and Ratcliffe
  • Sandy Brook and Hurlston Brook at Ormskirk
  • Sankey Brook at Gemini
  • Whinney Brook and Dovers Brook at Maghull, around Sefton Lane and the Waste Transfer Station
  • Whinney Brook and Dovers Brook at Maghull, beside Hall Lane, Fouracres and Sefton Lane
  • Worsley Brook at Alder Forest Allotments, Playing Fields and properties alongside the watercourse
  • Worsley Brook at Alder Forest Bridge