Due to heavy rain and showers, local flooding is possible from surface water today across the south and west parts of England and southern Wales. Land, roads and some properties may flood and there may be travel disruption.
The Environment Agency warns, Britain won’t be able to keep out the sea with ‘ever higher’ defenses and will be battered by an 800-mile wide Atlantic storm system bringing thunderstorms and driving rain that could lead to flash floods.
The agency chairman Emma Howard Boyd warned ‘we cannot win a war against water’ by building bigger walls.
“Instead we have to accept that houses and infrastructure must be built to cope with flooding. Raised electrics, hard floorings and ‘flood gates’ on houses are all measures that should be installed in new homes,” she added.
Forecasters say Wednesday’s wet weather will linger for the rest of the week , as a polar plunge continues to stifle temperatures and will be four days of intense rain, with daily thunderstorms expected across the country.
A Met Office spokeswoman said, “We will see some heavy rain and brisk winds, particularly along the east coast.
“In the afternoon we will have some heavy showers moving in across England and South Wales, some of these could be heavy and possibly have some hail.
“Moving into Thursday it will be a largely chilly day for many with some showers. Temperatures will be on the chillier side over the next few days, around 16C, with some spots falling to around 6C.”
Environment Minister Therese Coffey said: ‘Flooding and coastal erosion can have terrible consequences for people, businesses and the environment.
‘That’s why we are already providing £2.6 billion over six years, delivering more than 1,500 projects to better protect 300,000 homes.
‘But the threat of climate change will mean an increasing risk and preparing the country is a priority for the Government, and the nation as a whole.’
The Government will be launching a call for evidence to inform future action towards flood and coastal erosion risks, she said.
>Juthy Saha
