Storm Bert flood warnings issued across Bristol area

Several flood warnings and flood alerts have been issued across Bristol and Somerset as Storm Bert brings rain and strong winds to the region. The Environment Agency (EA) have listed nine red flood warnings and 24 orange flood alerts in areas across the county.

The flood alerts and warnings affect both inland areas near rivers and coastal areas. The orange flood alerts mean that flooding is possible, however the red flood warnings show that flooding is expected.

Residents in these areas should act now in order to protect their property and possessions. The EA advises anyone with flood protection products to be installed and activated including flood barriers, and that possessions should be moved to safety, away from the ground.

It comes as Storm Bert hit the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the Met Office issuing a yellow rain warning across the south-west from 06.00 on Saturday, November 23, to 23.45 on Sunday, November 24.

Andy Page is a Met Office Chief Meteorologist and said: “Impacts from Storm Bert will continue to cause disruption as we go through today, and multiple warnings are in place for wind and rain.”

“While the risk of any snowfall has now diminished, rainfall will affect much of the UK today, in particular some southwestern parts of England and South Wales, but the heaviest rain will ease from these areas through the day.

“The strong southerly winds continue today and warnings are in place for central, southern and eastern England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland where gusts could peak at 60 mph and could even reach more than 70 mph along some exposed coasts.

“Warnings could still be amended, possibly at short notice, so it is important people keep up to date with the very latest forecast.”

There are currently 15 flood warnings. These are listed below:

• Doniford Stream in the Sampford Mill Farm area
• Middle Stour from Hammoon to Sturminster Marshall
• River Aller
• River Axe (Upper) from Winsham to Axminster, including Chard Junction and Weycroft
• River Boyd at Wick
• River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge, low lying properties
• River Isle at Ashford Mill and Ilford Bridges
• River Isle at Ilminster
• River Isle from Chard Reservoir to Hambridge not including Ilminster
• River Parrett (upper) from South Perrott to Thorney
• River Taw (Middle) from Taw Bridge to Newnham Bridge
• River Tone from Bathpool to Ham including Ruishton and Creech St Michael, riverside properties
• River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster
• River Yeo at Mudford
• River Yeo from Sherborne to Yeovil

In addition to the flood warnings, X flood alerts are in force across Somerset and Bristol, many of which overlap with the other region. The full list of flood alerts are below:

• Bridgwater, Cannington and Combwich rivers
• Bristol Frome catchment
• East Somerset Rivers
• Exmoor Rivers
• Little Avon catchment and the Vale of Berkeley
• Lower Bristol Avon area
• Lower Exe area
• Lower Tone and Parrett Moors
• Mid Bristol Avon area
• Mid Devon Rivers
• Middle Exe area
• Middle Stour and tributaries
• Midford Brook catchment
• North Dartmoor Rivers
• River Axe area
• River Biss catchment
• River Cale and tributaries
• River Chew catchment
• River Piddle and tributaries
• Rivers Clyst and Culm and their tributaries
• Rivers in the Forest of Dean
• Rivers Otter and Sid, and Exmouth area
• Rivers Yeo and Parrett, downstream of Yeovil to Steart
• River Tone catchment
• River Wylye and tributaries
• River Yeo and River Parrett Moors around Muchelney and Thorney
• Somerset Frome area
• South East Somerset Rivers, Upper Reaches
• South Somerset Rivers, Upper Reaches
• Upper Bristol Avon area
• Upper Frome and tributaries
• Upper Stour and tributaries
• West Dorset Rivers and Streams
• West Somerset Streams

The Met Office’s weather forecast for the South West is: “Another wet day with a band of heavy and persistent rain eastwards across the region. Very windy, especially along the south coast where coastal gales are possible.

“Some drier spells will develop in the west by later afternoon. Very mild. Maximum temperature 15 °C.”

The Met Office’s forecast for tonight reads: “A damp evening with rain gradually clearing eastwards overnight. Clear spells to follow, however blustery showers readily develop and spread into the west. Feeling much cooler. Minimum temperature 4 °C.”