Although the situation is far more serious for those whose homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, anglers should be extra careful when fishing rivers suffering from extreme flooding. Your life is at stake and all it takes is one slip. It would be extremely wise to wear a buoyancy aid when fishing in such a situation.
Major incident plans were invoked during the day by the emergency services in Taunton in Somerset – where the river levels have been the highest for forty years – and at Malmesbury on the Bristol Avon.
Up to 90mm of rain has fallen in some parts of Devon in the past 30 hours. Rainfall of between 40mm and 70mm has been common in the South West.
There is concern of severe flooding in Shrewsbury and other riverside towns along the River Severn. Early indications are that the river level may reach its highest since October 1998.
In Wales, some river levels have been at their highest for 25 years.
The imminent weather forecast is encouraging, but wet weather is expected again on Wednesday.
Severe Flood Warnings are in force for:
Wales
River Usk from Glangrwyne to Newport River Ely at Cardiff River Wye including Hay, Hereford, Skenfrith and Ross-on-Wye River Monnow at Skenfrith The Lower Dee at Bangor on Dee
Midlands
River Vrynwy from Llansantffraid to Sharwadine River Teme from Ludlow to Bransford Bridge River Severn from Caerhowel to Trewern, from Pool Quay to Crewe Green and from Sharwardine to Llansantffriad
South West
East Lyn, Lynmouth, Devon Lower Tawe, Newnham Bridge – Barnstaple Lower Torridge, Devon River Axe, East Devon River Chew, near Bristol Bristol Avon – Malmesbury Lower Tone, Bishops Hull to North Curry (including Taunton) Somerset Lower British Avon
South East
River Cuckmere, from Hellingly through Alfriston to Exceat River Ouse, from Isfield to Barcombe River Rother, Mayfield to Newenden in Kent, including Robertsbridge River Teise and Lesser Teise, Lamberhurst to Yalding River Eden/Eden Brook, from Crowhurst/Blindley Heath to Penshurst, Kent River Medway, from Forest Row to Penshurst, Kent River Beult, Pluckley and Bethersden to Yalding, Kent
East Anglia
River Kym, Kymbolton, Cambs Alconbury Brook, from Alconbury Weston to Ellington, Cambs
Thames
River Stort from Bishop Stortford, Spellbrook and Gaston Green through to Sawbridgeworth and down to the confluenece of the River Leigh
North East
River Aire at Castleford and Mickletown River Ouse at Nairburn and Acaster Malbis
In addition to the Severe Flood Warnings, nearly 300 Flood Warnings are in force on dozens of rivers across most of England and Wales. There also are over 200 Flood watches in place.
PHONE FLOODLINE 0845 988 1188 FOR 24HR RECORDED FLOOD WARNINGS.
Environment Agency
