Storm Chandra brings second day of flooding and travel disruption
Flooding and travel disruptions from Storm Chandra continued after the third storm of the year hit the country with high winds and rain on Tuesday.
More than 100 flood warnings are in place across the UK, with yellow warnings for ice in force across much of the country during morning rush hour.
National Rail has warned that bad weather could affect journeys across England, Scotland and Wales until Friday, as road closures and rail, ferry and flight cancellations continue.
Storm Chandra arrives just days after Storm Ingrid caused major damage and disruption over the weekend; This meant that in many places rain fell on the already saturated ground.
The risk of flooding continues on Wednesday morning 102 flood warnings260 flood warnings have been issued across England where flooding is expected and possible.
There was in Wales Three flood warnings and 16 flood warnings are in place on Wednesday morning, including eight flood warnings and eight flood warnings across scotland.
A major incident has been declared in Somerset, with around 50 properties flooded. Further disruption is possible across the region and a yellow rain warning is in place for south-west England on Thursday.
Two serious flood warnings, indicating life-threatening danger, were issued in England on Tuesday. Both have since been removed.
These were issued for Upper Frome, Dorchester and Ottery St Mary, Devon, where the Environment Agency said the River Otter had reached its highest level on record.
“There’s severe flooding at the moment,” Jackie Blackford, whose home overlooks the river, told BBC Radio Devon on Tuesday. “It’s a terrible thing; I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Schools were closed in parts of England and Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
Heavy rain set new daily rainfall records for January in several places, including Katesbridge in Northern Ireland, Mountbatten in Plymouth and Hurn in Dorset.
More than 10,000 properties in Northern Ireland suffered power cuts and more than 300 schools were closed. Gusty winds reached speeds of 80 miles per hour at Orlock Head on the Ards Peninsula.
Many domestic flights and ferry services were cancelled.
Outside the UK, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in the Republic of Ireland said nearly 20,000 homes, farms and businesses were without power on Tuesday.
Storm Chandra was the third major storm to hit the UK in January, coming shortly after Ingrid and Goretti; the latter was described by the Met Office as one of the most powerful storms to hit Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 30-35 years.
Additional reporting by Kathryn Armstrong, Chloe Gibson and Christine Butler
