Storm Chandra Batters UK with Severe Flooding and Widespread Disruption
Heavy rainfall and powerful winds have swept across the United Kingdom as Storm Chandra triggered multiple weather warnings, causing significant flooding, extensive travel disruption and numerous school closures. The storm's impact has been felt nationwide, with emergency services responding to dangerous conditions and authorities urging the public to exercise extreme caution.
Devon Community Faces Critical Flood Threat
A severe flood warning remains active in Ottery St Mary, Devon, where residents have been warned their properties could become completely submerged. The Environment Agency has described the floodwaters as potentially "deep and fast flowing," posing serious risks to both property and personal safety.
Local resident Jackie Blackford, who lives overlooking the River Otter, provided a stark account of the situation: "I live on a hill overlooking part of the Otter and it's normally quite a nice little river. At the moment, it's a raging torrent. It is horrendous – I've never seen anything like it." She reported witnessing substantial traffic attempting to evacuate the area, with many vehicles being forced to turn back due to impassable routes.
Emergency Services Respond to Multiple Incidents
Devon and Cornwall Police have reported "significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force area," specifically warning motorists in Exeter, East and Mid Devon against all non-essential travel. A police spokesperson emphasised: "There is widespread disruption of the roads particularly across Exeter, East and Mid Devon this morning, with many roads becoming impassable. We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against floodwater. Please do not attempt to drive through it."
Firefighters from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service conducted 25 vehicle rescues from floodwaters on Tuesday morning, fortunately reporting no casualties. Images shared by Axminster Fire Station on social media showed multiple vehicles partially submerged in rising waters.
Education and Transport Networks Severely Affected
The storm's impact on education has been substantial, with 47 schools closed in Devon and more than 300 schools shut across Northern Ireland. Transport networks have experienced particularly severe disruption, with multiple major road closures reported across affected regions.
In south-west England, critical routes including the A30 in Devon between junctions near Ottery St Mary and Exeter Airport, and the A303 between Upottery in Devon and Horton Cross in Somerset, have been closed due to flooding. The A35 in Dorset remains shut in both directions near Dorchester, while in northern England, the A66 between County Durham and Cumbria has been closed because of snow accumulation.
Rail services have been significantly affected, with National Rail Enquiries confirming multiple line closures in Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire and Devon due to flooding. Transport for Wales reported a blocked railway at Llanbister Road station in Powys, suspending all services between Swansea and Shrewsbury. Air travel has also been disrupted, with domestic flight cancellations affecting major airports including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Manchester and Southampton.
Weather Warnings and Flood Alerts Remain Active
The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings, including amber warnings for south-west England (rain) and the eastern coast of Northern Ireland (wind). Forecasters predict gusts reaching 60-70mph across eastern Northern Ireland, with potential coastal gusts of 75mph, noting that "easterly winds of this strength are unusual and are likely to be impactful."
Additional yellow warnings for rain and wind cover extensive areas of southern England, northern England, Scotland and the entirety of Northern Ireland. Flood management authorities have issued over 100 flood warnings across England, predominantly concentrated in south-west regions, alongside six active warnings in Wales and multiple alerts in Scotland.
Storm Chandra represents the latest named storm from the western Europe storm naming group, a collaborative initiative between the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. The storm's widespread impact underscores the continuing challenges posed by extreme weather events across the British Isles, with authorities monitoring conditions closely as response efforts continue.
