Update, 21 December 2019:
Further heavy rain from 19 to 20 December flooded roads in parts of South East England. Heavy rain also triggered landslips along railway lines, severely disrupting train services, according to BBC reports.
Flooding caused chaos on roads in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk in East England. Parts of the M23 motorway near Crawley were closed, disrupting traffic to Gatwick Airport.
Drivers were rescued from flood waters near Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, and also in Suffolk, West Sussex and Kent. The small town of Edenbridge in Kent was flooded after the River Eden burst its banks.
https://twitter.com/BStortPolice/status/1208008098818011137
Original report, 20 December 2019:
Heavy rain and strong winds hit parts of southern England from 18 to 19 December, 2019, causing flash flooding which damaged homes and disrupted transport.
The worst hit area was Hayle in Cornwall, where as many as 50 homes and businesses were flooded. Cornwall Fire and Rescue were called in to help pump flooded areas.
A major road near Hayle was closed due to flooding, prompting Devon and Cornwall Police to declare a major incident. Several vehicles were stranded in the flood water. The road has since re-opened.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Due to recent heavy rain there is localised flooding across Devon and Cornwall making a number of roads impassable. Stay safe, drive with extra care, take notice of road closure signs and avoid driving into standing water at all times.”
Roads were also flooded near Dorchester in Dorset. Rail travel was disrupted after flooding near Southampton blocked railway lines and heavy rain triggered a landslip blocking railway tracks in Liss, Hampshire.
The UK’s Met Office has issued Yellow Level warnings for rain in parts of southern and eastern England until 22 December. As of 20 December there were 47 flood warnings and 194 flood alerts in place across England, mostly in the south and west.
Meanwhile media in Ireland reported that a storm, named Storm Elsa, caused flooding on the west coast late on 18 December, 2109. Storm surge, high waves combined with a high tide swamped parts of Galway City, including Salthill, The Spanish Arch and The Galway Docks. Dozens of cars were damaged.
Social Media
HAYLE FLOODING UPDATE:
Water has now completely receded from Fore Street, Hayle.There is more rain forecast for later and tomorrow, but not as severe. Please continue to take care on the roads.
Please find flood advice here: https://t.co/TRstC5CrGI
— Cornwall Council (@CornwallCouncil) December 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/StIvesCFRS/status/1207674965174210560
. @KathrynBilling @CornwallFRS tells @laurencereed 50 properties affected by #Hayle #flash #floods – @DC_Police have declared a ‘major incident’
This is the #A30 nr Hayle – drivers urged to avoid area. Video by Elliot Lloyd – More @BBCSpotlight @laurencereed @radiobailie pic.twitter.com/EgXpYCooFU
— BBC Radio Cornwall (@BBCCornwall) December 19, 2019
⚠️⚠️STORM UPDATE⚠️⚠️
Salthill, The Spanish Arch and The Galway Docks are badly flooded. High tide is not forecasted until 23:00 so this will get far worse for homes and businesses in the areas affected.
A full emergency response has been issued by The Chief Executive of GCC. pic.twitter.com/M36iLe82Yp
— Cllr. Eddie Hoare (@EddieHoareFG) December 18, 2019
