Storm Chandra Wreaks Havoc: Floods, Power Cuts & Travel Chaos
Storm Chandra batters the UK with flooding, power cuts and travel chaos. Thousands affected as UK weather warnings remain in force nationwide.
Storm Ciarán has swept across the country, bringing strong winds and flooding to large parts of the UK.
The third named storm of the year has caused road closures, as well as cancellations to rail, ferry and flight services.
Schools were closed in parts of England and Northern Ireland, and thousands of homes were without power as winds reached speeds of almost 80mph.
Yellow warnings for wind, rain and snow remain in place for parts of England, Scotland and Wales, while an amber warning for wind is in effect for the north and east of Northern Ireland, including Belfast.
This latest bout of severe weather follows Storm Ingrid, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the weekend.
National Rail has warned that the bad weather could affect journeys across England, Scotland and Wales until Friday.
By Tuesday evening, hundreds of flood warnings were in place across the UK, including 95 in England.
Rain is falling on already saturated ground in parts of south-west England, increasing the risk of flooding.
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Firefighters in Devon and Somerset said they rescued people from 25 vehicles trapped in floodwater on Tuesday morning.
A major incident was declared in Somerset on Tuesday evening after around 50 homes were flooded. Council leader Bill Revans said the heavy rain had caused "significant disruption" and advised people to avoid travelling if possible.
Richard Foord, MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, said there were reports of around 20 homes flooded in Devon and Cornwall – a figure expected to rise as river levels continue to increase.
Oliver Kimber, from Lostwithiel in Cornwall, said the street where he lives was under water. "There was so much water, and it was flowing so fast, that it had nowhere else to go, and it was coming back up through the drains."
Heavy rainfall led to new daily rainfall records being set in January in several locations – including Katesbridge in Northern Ireland, Mountbatten in Plymouth and Hearne in Dorset.
A severe flood warning, indicating a danger to life, was issued for Upper Frome, Dorchester, while another severe warning was lifted earlier on Tuesday in Ottery St Mary, Devon – where the Environment Agency said the River Otter had reached its highest level on record.
"At the moment, it's a raging torrent," Jackie Blackford, whose home is by the river, told BBC Radio Devon. "It's absolutely terrifying – I've never seen anything like it."
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Several roads in Dorset, Somerset and East Devon have been closed due to flooding and fallen trees.
Local police have urged people not to travel in Exeter, as well as East and Mid Devon, as reports of flooding increase. More than 40 schools across the county have been fully or partially closed.
The Met Office says more rain is expected in the South West on Thursday, which could cause further flooding and transport disruption.
Some schools in the West Midlands were closed due to flooding, and flood warnings have also been issued for parts of Yorkshire.
Rain is forecast overnight into Wednesday across south-east England, while the Met Office is warning of travel disruption due to rain and snow across a large swathe of northern England, as well as the Pennines and south-west Scotland, where rain and snow combined with wind could create blizzard-like conditions.
Up to 5cm of snow is expected, with up to 20cm possible on higher ground. A section of the A66 between Bowes in County Durham and Brough in Cumbria has already been closed due to snowfall.
Flooding is expected around the River Monnow at Forge Road, Osbaston, as well as in several locations along the Afon Llwyd. Gwent Police had earlier said that the A40 between Abergavenny and Raglan was flooded.
Strong winds still pose a threat to many areas, particularly in Scotland and the southwestern parts of England and Wales.
In Northern Ireland, more than 10,000 homes were without power on Tuesday, and more than 300 schools were closed. Gusts of wind reached a maximum speed of 80mph at Orlock Head on the Ards Peninsula.
Several domestic flights to and from Belfast Airport were cancelled, while Scottish regional airline Loganair cancelled at least 12 flights on Tuesday.
Ferry services between Belfast and Liverpool were also cancelled, and several scheduled services from Belfast and Larne were disrupted.
Outside the UK, in the Republic of Ireland, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said that approximately 20,000 homes, farms, and businesses were without power. Storm Chandra is the third major storm to hit the UK in January, following closely after Ingrid and Goretti – which the Met Office described as one of the most impactful storms to hit Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the last 30-35 years.
Clearer skies are expected on Tuesday, but falling temperatures after heavy rain could lead to a risk of ice.
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