It’s been a year of extreme weather events – with 12 named storms in the last 12 months, the highest number since storm naming began in 2015.
And while no siblings of Storm Darragh and Jocelyn, to name but a few, are expected before the year is out, it doesn’t mean the UK won’t have to contend with a blustery and wet December.
While some parts of the country have welcomed milder and more settled weather in recent days, other areas remain braced for more flooding – with 30 flood alerts and one flood warning still active.
Flood alerts signal that flooding is possible, while the more serious warnings signal that it is expected.
The only area that the government has issued a flood warning for is the Peterborough stretch of the River Nene, with particular focus on the B1040 road due to its proximity to the Whittlesey Wash flood storage reservoir.
Those living or travelling on the stretch between Thorney and Whittlesey Road have been urged to take precautionary measures including following diversion routes and putting flood protection equipment in place.
The lower-risk areas, where flooding is possible but not guaranteed, are spread across the country and include areas along the River Bourne in Chertsey, on the Surrey and Berkshire border, the Salisbury Plain and parts of Norfolk near the Hundred Foot Washes.
While some of the areas issued with flood alerts are in hotspots for groundwater flooding – including Salisbury, the west of Dorset near Bridport and Great Shefford in the Thames Valley – others are still recovering from Storm Darragh, which caused widespread disruption across the UK at the beginning of December.
The Upper River Derwent in Derbyshire is still experiencing high water levels associated with the storm, as is the River Piddle near Wareham in Dorset, and a cluster of areas in Gloucestershire including the River Churn tributary of the Thames, alongside areas along the River Severn and River Leach.
The alerts are also concentrated in the Oxfordshire region, on the River Ray, River Cherwell and River Thame.
Heavy rain has also been forecast for parts of Scotland this week, with a Met Office yellow weather warning covering the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Perthshire and the Stirling area in place until 9pm today.
Other areas in the UK are set for a chilly and dry start to the week, with strong winds expected across England, Northern Ireland and Wales and some rainfall from Tuesday onwards.
