LIVE: Roads flooded and trains cancelled as one months rain falls on Britain in just hours with more to come
by Katy Ronkin · LBCLive
By Katy Ronkin
Flooding is causing chaos for commuters on Monday morning, with heavy rain closing motorways and delaying trains.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for parts of England amid concerns that affected areas could see more than a month's worth of rain falling on Monday
13 separate areas across England have been issued flood warnings on Monday.
The roads are extremely wet after all the heavy rain with lots of roads closed:
- In Buckinghamshire, the A422 is closed both ways in Astwood
- In Bedfordshire, the A421 is closed both ways between Kempston and the M1 Junction
- In Hertfordshire, in Watford the A41 is closed both ways
- And in Surrey, on the A3 the Northbound entry slip road from the M25 Junction is closed
Flooding is also causing problems on the Underground:
- The Bakerloo Line is suspended Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone
- There's service on the District Line between Turnham Green and Richmond
- The Metropolitan Line is suspended between Harrow On The Hill and Uxbridge
- And the Piccadilly Line can't run between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge
London Overground aren't running between South Acton and Richmond
Great Northern, Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink are all warning of delays and cancellations.
Some affected areas could see 100 to 120mm of rain on Monday and forecasters warned there may be more warnings in the week ahead.
Pictures on social media showed streets in Dunstable and Hitchin amid a deluge of downpours as cars and streets were left submerged.
Bedfordshire Police said it closed off part of the High Street due to "substantial flooding".The A421 near Bedford was also closed westbound, between the A6 and Marston Moretaine, following the flooding.
Newcastle's Carabao Cup match called off after sinkhole opens up in middle of Wimbedon's pitch
Newcastle United's Carabao Cup clash against AFC Wimbledon has been postponed after ‘extensive overnight flooding’ left sinkholes across the pitch.
Heavy rain has caused flooding around the outside of Wimbledon's ground while there is also damage to the pitch at Plough Lane.
Storms have swept across the country over the past 24 hours but The Cherry Red Records Stadium has been hit hard by the wet weather.
Katy Ronkin
London Fire Brigade taken around 350 flooding calls
London Fire Brigade said its 999 control officers have taken around 350 calls on flooding across the capital.
Firefighters have attended incidents in areas such as Ruislip, Uxbridge, Wimbledon and Carshalton.
The service said these included rescuing people trapped in cars, assisting people from their homes and responding to flooding in underground stations, roadways, residences and commercial properties.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "As firefighters continue to work with partners to keep Londoners safe, it's important to make sure you know what to do if you experience flooding.
"Firefighters carried out multiple rescues involving people trapped in cars throughout the night. If possible, please avoid driving into flooded water or a flooded area as vehicles can quickly become unstable in moving water.
"If you're driving and your car becomes caught in flood waters, ensure you and your passengers unbuckle your seat belts and where possible climb out to safety.
"If you become trapped in your vehicle, turn on all the lights, including your hazard warning lights. Shout and sound your horn for help, and if you are able to reach your mobile, call 999."
Katy Ronkin
More pictures of flooding across the country
We now have more pictures showing the impact of heavy rain across the country.
Earlier, we told you that the Carabao Cup match between AFC Wimbledon and Newcastle will be postponed due to flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, home of AFC Wimbledon, in south west London.
Photos show a sinkhole covering a large area on the pitch.
Flooding has also caused disruption on highways and roads. The open boot of a car is visible above the water where the vehicle is submerged in flood water on the A421 in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
The Met Office is warning that affected areas could experience more than a month's worth of rain falling on Monday. In Grendon, Northamptonshire, a tractor pulls a vehicle stuck in flood water.
Katy Ronkin
Afternoon travel update
National Highways confirmed the A421 in Bedfordshire was closed in both directions between A6 Bedford and M1 J13 near Marston Moretaine due to flooding.
Bedfordshire Police said it had closed off part of Dunstable High Street due to "substantial flooding", with footage shared on social media showing cars battling high water around the Saracen's Head pub.
The Overground and some Tube lines in London have been partly suspended. The District Line is not running between Turnham Green and Richmond, while the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines are suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.
There is no Overground service between South Acton and Richmond, and there are also severe delays on the Bakerloo line, and on the Metropolitan line between Rayners Lane and Harrow-on-the-Hill.
Katy Ronkin
Northamptonshire home floods
Jon Sayles, from Grendon, in Northamptonshire, said his home has been hit with "two feet" of water after heavy rainfall overnight.
He told the PA news agency: "At about 9pm last night water came in through the back of the house.
"I've had about two feet of water. I've got electrical problems, the sockets don't work, the fridge isn't working and there's damage to the carpet and settees.
"I was in bed as I'd decided to have an early night. A neighbour called me to tell me what was happening so I went to have a look and saw the water. It was unbelievable.
"I'm still clearing up and had no sleep last night."
Katy Ronkin
17 flood warnings issued across England
The number of flood warnings where flooding “is expected” in England has increased to 17 and 68 alerts where “flooding is possible.”
If you are in an area with a flood warning, contact your local council for advice.
Here are the affected locations:
- Bunches Brook from Broadway to Childswickham
- Grendon Brook catchment including Yardley Hastings, Denton, Bozeat, Easton Maudit and Grendon
- Kidbrooke Stream at Forest Row
- Low-lying areas close to Clipstone Brook at Leighton Buzzard
- Mill Brook from the Hagbourne Mill area to Winterbrook
- River Anker at Mancetter, Witherley and Atherstone
- River Flit, River Hit and River Ivel at Shefford and Clifton
- River Ivel at Langford
- River Lee at Harpenden
- River Lee at Luton
- River Medway between Forest Row and Penshurst
- River Ouzel at Bletchley and Caldecotte
- River Ouzel at Leighton Buzzard, Stoke Hammond and Great Brickhill
- River Teise in Lamberhurst and Goudhurst
- Water Eaton Brook at Water Eaton
- Wider area at risk from Clipstone Brook at Leighton Buzzard
- Yeading Brook East at South Ruislip
Katy Ronkin
Large cleanup operation on Euston Road
Highway maintenance staff are working to clear water from Euston Road in London.
Katy Ronkin
Flooding victim saw "wave of water" coming towards him
A man from Northamptonshire has described the moment he saw a "wave of water" heading towards him during flooding on Sunday night.
Tim Maher and his partner Carol Findon, from Grendon, saw their two-storey home partially submerged overnight with more than a foot of water.
Mr Maher told the PA news agency: "We've had an awful lot of rain in recent days and some forecasters were warning we could see a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.
"I have an app on my phone which tracks river levels and at around 8.45pm it rocketed up."
I decided to drive down to the bridge and saw the water breaking the banks and coming down the road towards me.
"I quickly turned around, drove home and put up a flood barrier we've got up against the door. It kept out a lot of the water but we've had about an inch overnight.
"We've had some damage to the carpets, settees and other furniture. The most difficult bit will be drying out the structure.
"We haven't had much sleep and at least eight houses on our road have been impacted. It would be nice to get a permanent solution to this problem."
Katy Ronkin
Full list of school closures due to weather
Schools across the country have been forced to close today due to severe flooding. Flooded schools are switching to remote learning and encouraging parents to check their school's website for updates.
Here's the full list which we will be updating if anything changes:
Gloucestershire:
- Chosen Hill School in Churchdown
- The Milestone School in Gloucester [Monday and Tuesday]
- Tewkesbury CofE Primary
Oxfordshire:
- Frank Wise School, Banbury
- The Warriner School, Bloxham
- Lord Williams’s School, Thame
- St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Banbury
Bedfordshire:
- Goldington Academy, Putnoe
- Hockliffe Lower School, Leighton Buzzard
- Mark Rutherford School
- St Marys CofE Clophill VA, Clophill
- The Hills Academy,
- Broadmead Lower School, Park Crescent
- Sheerhatch Primary School’s Willington site
- Lincroft Academy, Oakley [only be open to Year 11 and ARC students today]
- Harlington Upper
- Harlington Lower
- Sundon Lower School, Bedfordshire
Katy Ronkin
Football canceled due to flooding
AFC Wimbledon and Newcastle's Carabao Cup third-round meeting on Tuesday has been called off due to "extensive overnight flooding" at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The Dons' stadium in London is now closed as a result, with a rescheduled date for the tie yet to be confirmed.
A statement on Wimbledon's official website read: "We regret to inform supporters that due to extensive overnight flooding of the River Wandle and surrounding areas, including at our Cherry Red Records Stadium, Tuesday night's Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Newcastle United has been postponed.
"More information will follow in due course regarding fixture rearrangement. "The stadium is closed until further notice."
Katy Ronkin