Britons have been battered by historic January rainfall as Storm Chandra swept across the nation, causing severe travel chaos, widespread flooding, and setting new daily precipitation records for the month. The tempest has led to significant disruption, with hundreds of schools shut, numerous flights cancelled, and many roads rendered impassable due to floodwaters.
Unprecedented Rainfall and Severe Flood Warnings
The Met Office confirmed that Storm Chandra has resulted in several locations across the United Kingdom establishing new January daily rainfall records. Notably, Katesbridge in Northern Ireland recorded a staggering 100.8mm of rain. The south-west of England was among the worst-hit regions, with Devon and Dorset facing two severe flood warnings issued on Tuesday, indicating a potential danger to life.
Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, described the flooding situation as "truly horrendous" and urged residents to heed official warnings seriously. He highlighted that the River Otter had reached its highest ever recorded level, prompting the Environment Agency to issue a severe flood alert for the area.
Extensive Flood Alerts Across the Nations
As of Tuesday evening, the Environment Agency had implemented 93 flood warnings across England, where flooding is expected, alongside 237 flood alerts indicating possible flooding. In Wales, authorities issued 17 flood alerts and two flood warnings, while Scotland saw eight flood alerts and three flood warnings. The first danger to life warning was activated at Ottery St Mary in Devon early Tuesday morning as the River Otter at Fenny Bridges exceeded its previous record set in December 2000. Although this warning has since been lifted, a second was established for the Upper Frome at Dorchester on Tuesday afternoon, where floodwaters are anticipated to be deep and fast-flowing.
Travel Chaos and Rescue Operations
The storm sparked considerable travel disruption nationwide. Dozens of flights were cancelled across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, with ferry sailings and train journeys also severely affected. Several roads remain closed due to flooding, particularly in areas like Axminster in Somerset, where cars were left stranded on inundated roads.
Firefighters in Devon conducted rescue operations, saving 25 people from their vehicles. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson reported "significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force area" and advised drivers in Exeter, East, and Mid Devon to avoid travel. The police emphasised, "We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against floodwater. Please do not attempt to drive through it. The weather is improving but rivers are still responding to earlier heavy rainfall."
Power Outages and School Closures
The impact of Storm Chandra extended beyond flooding, causing power outages in neighbouring regions. In the Republic of Ireland, energy provider ESB reported approximately 20,000 homes, farms, and businesses were left without electricity. Northern Ireland Electricity noted that outages peaked at 9 am, affecting around 10,000 properties.
Education was also disrupted, with over 350 schools closed in Northern Ireland and 47 in Devon. In a related incident, a woman was hospitalised after a tree fell on a car in the Snowhill Road area of Lisbellaw.
Further Weather Warnings Issued
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for ice covering much of England and Northern Ireland on Wednesday morning, following the heavy rainfall. Additionally, a yellow weather warning for rain is in place for south-west England on Thursday, with further precipitation likely to exacerbate flooding and transport issues.
Chris Wilding, the flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, stated, "Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected." He strongly cautioned motorists, "We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car."
As the UK braces for icy conditions, the aftermath of Storm Chandra underscores the severe weather challenges facing the nation, with ongoing risks of flooding and continued disruption to daily life.
