Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts have been issued across the United Kingdom in the wake of Storm Chandra, which unleashed torrential rainfall and triggered significant disruption. A major incident was formally declared in Somerset on Tuesday evening, highlighting the severe impact of the weather system.
Widespread Flooding and Alerts
As of Wednesday morning, the Environment Agency reported a total of 99 flood warnings, indicating that flooding is expected, alongside 260 flood alerts where flooding is possible across England. In Wales, authorities have issued three flood warnings and 16 flood alerts, while Scotland is dealing with eight flood warnings and eight flood alerts. Northern Ireland experienced particularly heavy downpours, with Katesbridge recording 103mm of rain on Tuesday, according to Met Office data.
Major Incident in Somerset
Somerset Council declared a major incident on Tuesday evening, citing a high risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors as rainwater continues to move through the system. Council leader Bill Revans emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that Storm Chandra delivered over 50mm of rain to parts of the county overnight, exacerbating already saturated ground and causing widespread disruption. An estimated 50 properties have been affected by flooding in areas including Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford, and West Camel.
Revans urged residents to avoid travel if possible and never attempt to drive through floodwater, noting that the council is working with emergency services to prepare for potential further deterioration in conditions.
Travel Chaos and Road Closures
The storm has led to extensive travel disruption across the UK. Multiple road closures have been reported in south-west England, including the A30 in Devon between junctions near Ottery St Mary and Exeter Airport, the M5 southbound between Cullompton and Exeter due to flooding, and the A303 in Somerset. In Scotland, the A82 north of Spean Bridge was closed southbound because of fallen trees, while the Bridge of Orchy on the A82 was restricted for high-sided vehicles.
Rail services have also been severely impacted. Great Western Railway advised passengers not to travel between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton or Barnstaple, with cancellations in Somerset and Cornwall. ScotRail implemented speed restrictions on services between Edinburgh, Inverness, and Glasgow Queen Street until Wednesday morning, and National Rail warned of disruptions potentially lasting until Friday.
Emergency Response and Safety Measures
Emergency services have been actively responding to the crisis. Firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued individuals from 25 vehicles trapped in floodwater on Tuesday morning, with no casualties reported. Images from across the UK and Ireland showed search and rescue workers in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, vehicles stranded on flooded roads in Kent, and snowfall in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham.
In addition to flood risks, yellow weather warnings for ice were issued for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of Scotland on Wednesday morning. A further yellow warning for rain is in place for south-west England on Thursday, with the Met Office cautioning that additional rainfall could lead to more flooding and transport issues.
Broader Impact and Storm Naming
Storm Chandra's effects extended beyond flooding, causing domestic flight cancellations at airports including Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester, and Southampton on Tuesday. The storm is part of the western Europe storm naming group list, shared between the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, marking it as the latest in a series of severe weather events to be formally named.
As authorities continue to monitor the situation, residents are advised to stay updated on local warnings and avoid unnecessary travel to ensure safety during this challenging weather period.
