Flood alerts as more rain expected

COVENTRY and Warwickshire is set for another weekend of poor weather - for the third week in a row.

February has seen the region battered by both Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis, bringing about wind, rain, flooding and disruption.

This weekend shouldn’t be quite so bad as no storms are forecast - though it is still expected to be a miserable few days.

According to the Met Office, while much of today is set to be dry, Sunday will start with heavy rainfall throughout the morning.

And, with the ground across the region still saturated, two flood alerts remain in place going in to the weekend.

According to the Environment Agency, flooding is still a possibility in the region.

There’s three categories - a flood alert, which means flooding is possible, and people should be prepared; a flood warning, which means flooding is expected and immediate action is required; and a severe flood warning, which means there is a danger to life.

Across the UK, there are currently five severe flood warnings, 75 flood warnings, and 143 flood alerts in place.

Locally, there are two flood alerts in place for Warwickshire.

Flood alerts in Warwickshire – River Leam and River Itchen:

According to the Environment Agency: “River levels have risen at the Eathorpe river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is possible later this afternoon and evening.

“Flooding is affecting lowlying land and roads adjacent to the River Leam between Grandborough and Leamington including Kites Hardwick, Birdingbury, Marton, Eathorpe, Hunningham and Offchurch and the River Itchen between Southam and Marton including Long Itchington. We are closely monitoring the situation.

“Please avoid using low lying footpaths and bridges near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.”

Upper Avon River Swift and Clay Coton Brook:

The Environment Agency said: “River levels remain high but are beginning to fall at the Lilbourne river gauge. Consequently, the risk of flooding is reducing.

“Flooding is affecting lowlying land and roads adjacent to River Avon between Stanford and Rugby, River Swift between Cosford and Rugby and Clay Coton Brook between Yelvertoft and Lilbourne. We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are actively checking river levels and the weather forecast.

“Please avoid using low lying footpaths and bridges near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.”