Severe weather hit central and southern England on Monday, as heavy rainfall resulted in significant flooding, travel disruptions, and school closures.
In just 24 hours, some areas experienced over a month’s worth of rain, leading to emergency responses across the region.
The London Fire Brigade reported receiving around 350 calls related to flooding, including rescues from submerged vehicles and homes. Notably, a massive sinkhole formed at AFC Wimbledon’s stadium, prompting the postponement of upcoming matches.
Following a weekend marked by thunderstorms, the Met Office issued an amber weather alert for regions including Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading, Bath, and Gloucester, warning of ongoing flooding and travel challenges.
Heavy rainfall caused widespread damage, including a sinkhole that postponed AFC Wimbledon’s matches.A broader yellow warning covered most of England and southeast Wales, with rainfall amounts forecasted between 60mm and 80mm, and some areas could see up to 120mm.
Frank Saunders, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, indicated that the heavy rain’s impact depended on the movement of the weather system responsible for it. Woburn in Bedfordshire recorded a staggering 116mm of rain by early Monday.
The Environment Agency has issued 22 flood warnings and 86 alerts, particularly in areas such as Atherstone, Leighton Buzzard, Luton, and parts of London.
Many schools in Bedfordshire were closed due to flooding, and public transport services, including some London Overground and Tube lines, faced suspensions.
While some areas are expected to see a break from the rain on Tuesday, forecasters warn that heavy rainfall may return later in the week, accompanied by a drop in temperatures due to northerly winds.