Washout Britain
Torrents a danger to life, warn forecasters
DEADLY weather warnings were in place across most of the UK last night as sodden Britain was submerged by fierce flash floods.
The Environment Agency issued 39 alerts and 12 warnings after the tail end of Hurricane Humberto heaved across the Atlantic to lash the country with torrential rain and 50mph gusts.
Motorways were closed and drivers ditched their cars at the side of the road to flee dangerously high rising water.
Alert
Rail passengers in London, the West Midlands and south Wales endured delays as tracks were flooded or blocked by trees.
Almost all of the UK was on alert as the Met Office said fast-flowing water risked “causing a danger to life” and warned communities could be cut off by submerged roads.
And the dire conditions are here to stay as forecasters warned Britain will face storms until next month.
Rain, high winds, fog and thunder and lightning are predicted in England and Wales this week.
A Met Office spokesman said: “This pattern of very unsettled weather will remain until the weekend before another deep low arrives on Sunday.
“This is due to the jet stream which is steering unsettled weather in from the Atlantic. There will be some quite intense rainfall through the next week and the risk of strong winds in parts of the country.” People were forced to evacuate homes in West Derby, Liverpool, as other major roads across the city were shut by police. An ambulance was forced to plough through more than a foot of muddy water in Longbridge, Birmingham.
One lane of the M53 northbound was closed because of 70mm water levels.
Drivers had to be rescued from stranded cars including a woman who got stuck in her flooded motor in Southampton.
Downpours also scuppered cricket and cycling events across the country.
One competitive cyclist fell victim to the extreme conditions during the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire.
The men’s under-23 European champion Johan Price-Pejtersen started as a favourite but finished last after being thrown from his bike after persistent rain in Harrogate.
The Dane was almost completely submerged after he steered into a giant puddle during the time trials.