Environment Agency urges caution following rain over New Year

The Environment Agency hasis urgedwarning peoplethat toongoing stayflooding vigilantimpacts are likely to thecontinue riskin parts of floodingEngland andtoday stayas awayrivers fromcontinue swollento rivers.respond following recent widespread heavy rain.

Those travelling followingover the New Year celebrations are urged to stay away from swollen rivers,rivers withand significantto plan ahead as river and surface water flooding impacts are possible inon partsSunday and Monday due to further rain and rapidly melting snow.

As of North14.15 Weston EnglandThursday today2 (WednesdayNovember, 1there January).are 11 flood warnings and 44 flood alerts. The Environment Agency estimates that more than 21,000 properties have been protected and at least 47 properties have flooded, with reports of further flooding being investigated.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy has met with staff from the Environment Agency to discuss the response to the heavy rain and flooding, and to ensure that communities are kept safe and receive the support they need.

The Environment Agency continues to monitor the forecast and impacts on river levels. Its message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.

Ben Lukey, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

HeavyAs anda persistentresult rainof fromrecent lastwidespread nightheavy intorain thisminor morning means river levelsflooding willimpacts remain highprobable acrossin parts of theEngland Northtoday. ofMinor Englandriver untiland Thursday,surface withwater significantflooding inlandimpacts floodingare possible todayon Sunday and minorMonday impactsdue probableto infurther placesheavy onrain Thursday.and rapidly melting snow.

Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.

We advise anyone travelling or out celebrating the New Year to be especially careful and urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.  

People should search ‘check my flood risk’, sign up for free flood warnings, and keep up to date with the latest situation at @EnvAgency on X.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

My thoughts are with the people, businesses and communities impacted by flooding, particularly those in and around Greater Manchester.

I have met with officials from the Environment Agency to ensure that impacted communities are receiving the necessary support and I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe.

The Government is working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences through our new Floods Resilience Taskforce, so we can continue to protect people and their homes.

Lessons learned from these floods will be fed directly into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce to speed up the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.

The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Minister Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.