An inch (25mm) of rain has fallen over the last twenty-four hours and low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding will be at risk throughout the day.
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the river levels are high and there are FLOOD WATCHES across the catchments.
In SUSSEX the flashy nature of the River Cuckmere means that the levels are beginning to recede at its headwaters near Hellingly, but the water is rising downstream towards Sherman’s Bridge. Other rivers in Sussex remain high and many will continue to swell throughout the morning.
The powerful winds and high tide has meant that the shingle bank at Selsey Bill has been damaged by the wave action and there is a FLOOD WATCH in force for high water at 9.45am today. Bulldozers will be working to push the bank back into shape and the situation will be reassessed for this evening’s tide.
In KENT there is particular concern for the villages of Robertsbridge and Yalding as rivers across the county continue to respond to yesterday’s heavy rain. The Leigh Barrier near Tonbridge is storing water upstream of Tonbridge and Yalding, helping to protect them by only allowing a percentage of the water entering the barrier to continue its course.
The Aldington and Hothfield flood storage reservoirs on the East Stour are also offering relief to the town of Ashford and nearby communities.
There are currently 6 FLOOD WARNINGS in force across the south and the number is expected to increase as the rivers continue to rise.
The warnings are on the following stretches of rivers:-
Isle of Wight
Eastern Yar
Sussex
Cuckmere River (downstream of Hellingly to the A27 at Sherman’s Bridge)
River Ouse (Isfield to Barcombe)
Kent
River Medway (Penshurst to Leigh Barrier)
Teise and Lesser Teise (Lamberhurst and Yalding)
Eastern Rother (Mayfield to Newenden)
All other catchments across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent are on FLOOD WATCH and people living or travelling near rivers should take extra care.
Further rainfall has been predicted by the Met Office to cross the region, with up to an additional 12mm hitting the south before lunchtime. The Environment Agency is monitoring the radar system and river levels are being monitored around the clock, with electronic gauges sending information to the control centre every fifteen minutes.
The relatively dry weather over the last couple of months has meant that the water has been able to drain better than usual, but as the ground becomes more saturated, the rivers will respond quicker to additional rainfall.
