Weather in met turned severe on Thursday as the Environment Agency issued 40 flood alerts across the Midlands, Yorkshire and the south-east of England after thunderstorms and heavy rain damaged dozens of homes in England and Wales. The Met Office said some areas could see 75mm of rain in 12 hours.
In Birmingham, Ryan Goodwin said floodwater hit his home after he got back at about 7.30pm on Wednesday. He said his conservatory had about 3ft of water, the living room was damaged and he was trying to clear wet belongings and speak to insurance.
Ryan Goodwin in Birmingham
Goodwin said the water came through quickly. “About 7.30pm I got home, I was in the car with the kids and I thought I don’t want to get out yet, there’s too many puddles here. Then in a matter of about half an hour it was just a river coming round the corner, all the way down the road,” he said.
He added: “It’s gone under the laminate flooring in the front room. The conservatory got flooded, the electrics went off. The conservatory had about 3ft of water – luckily that is below the house level.” Jay Patel, his father-in-law, said: “The water was really, really fast.”
West Midlands and Nottinghamshire
Areas of Birmingham saw significant flooding on Wednesday after the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the Perry Barr area. The West Midlands fire service was alerted to flooding at 32 properties near the Tame Valley canal on Wednesday evening and sent seven fire engines to the scene.
In Nottinghamshire, a flood alert was issued for the River Maun at Edwinstowe and Ollerton. The Environment Agency said river levels at Mansfield The Dykes gauging station were rising rapidly, with Old Rufford Road most at risk.
Warnings across England and Wales
The Met Office warning covered parts of the Midlands, east of England, south of England, the north-west, Yorkshire and Humber and Wales until 10pm on Thursday. A second yellow warning covered Lincolnshire, parts of the east of England, parts of Yorkshire, Kent and Medway from 5pm on Thursday to 7am on Friday.
The Environment Agency said Staffordshire had 60mm of rainfall in 12 hours. It also said 71.3% of England remained in drought after a National Drought Group meeting on Thursday morning, and only 34% of the rainfall typically expected in August had been received.
The flooding came after five heatwaves in the UK that summer, leaving wet-weather damage to unfold on ground that had already been drying out for weeks. Goodwin said: “All the water comes off the motorway as well. It has been so dry for so long, all the leaves had blocked the drains and everything. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
