Flood warnings have been issued across parts of England and Wales due to heavy rainfall on already saturated ground, causing significant disruptions.
The Met Office has released three yellow weather warnings for rain affecting southern, southwestern, central, and eastern England, as well as parts of south Wales.
In addition, the Environment Agency has issued over 70 flood warnings and more than 250 flood alerts across England, while National Resources Wales has provided one flood warning and 22 alerts.
A yellow wind warning also applies to London and southern England, where gusts could reach 60-70mph. These warnings are expected to extend into Friday.
Gale warnings and ferry service disruptions affect travel across southern England and Cornwall.In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, several schools have closed due to rising flood levels and hazardous road conditions. The West Midlands has experienced extensive road flooding, and rail services have been disrupted.
Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway are operating replacement buses between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, and CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa have resumed, though delays and cancellations are still possible.
Flooding has also affected routes between Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford, and Great Western Railway has reported service interruptions between Plymouth and Newton Abbot.
The Met Office has issued 20 gale warnings for various sea areas, including Plymouth and Dover. Ferry services are impacted: Red Funnel Ferries warns of disruptions between Southampton and West Cowes, while WightLink’s Portsmouth to Fishbourne route has been canceled or delayed.
In Cornwall, St Mawes Ferry and the Flushing to Falmouth service are not operating due to strong winds and adverse sea conditions.
The Environment Agency has also issued 45 red cautions for strong streams, advising boat users to avoid navigating. Grahame Madge from the Met Office noted that while the weather is typical for winter, the cumulative effect of recent heavy rainfall makes river catchments more vulnerable.
Areas in the West Midlands, south Wales, and southwest England are forecasted to receive 20-30mm of rain. On Wednesday, rainfall totals reached 68mm in Whitebarrow and 63mm in Coniston Coppermines.