The Environment Agency has warned South West residents to remain on alert for flooding this week.
Over the next three days a LOW flood risk is maintained across the region, with minor disruption likely, and some significant disruption possible, as a result of further outbreaks of rain and showers.
River levels remain high in places, and are likely to rise following further rain, and locally heavy downpours could lead to localised surface water flooding.
The Met Office today forecast yet more rain into the weekend.
Yet more heavy rain is forecast for the next few days across the South West. The Met Office says we are in for a mixture of blustery showers, gales and a risk of more flooding. Meanwhile, anyone hoping that 2013 will bring an end to the wet and miserable weather will be sadly mistaken. The first week of January will continue largely unsettled and often windy, with occasionally heavy bands of rain crossing the UK, separated by clearer but more showery interludes. Western and southwestern parts are considered most likely to see the heaviest rain with temperatures near or just below average to...
The Met Office is forecasting yet more rain over the next few days.
A spokesman said further rain is likely in southwest England through the next few days bringing a medium flood risk, with further significant disruption from river and surface water flooding possible across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
Meanwhile, the A396 Devon - A396 Stoke Road was this morning closed in both directions between the A377 Cowley Bridge Road junction in Exeter and the Green Lane junction in Rewe, because of flooding.
Further bands of heavy rain accompanied by strong winds are expected to move northeastwards across the South West of England and South Wales into early tomorrow morning.
The wet weather is set to contiune well into Monday.
Given that the ground is already saturated, the public should be prepared for the risk of localised flooding from both rivers and surface water.
The police and Highways Agency are urging drivers only to travel if they have to and to take precauations when venturing out.
Drivers are advised to check traffic information before travelling,...
A plethora of jump racing stars were set to line up in the re-routed Levy Board Peterborough Chase, which was due to take place at Exeter Racecourse on Thursday (Dec 20th), but with yet more heavy rain affecting parts of the region, the day's racing has had to be abandoned due to a waterlogged racecourse.
The Met Office says up to 60mm of rain will fall in some areas. This additional rainfall, is likely to affect other parts of the county with property flooding from rivers and surface water as well as disruption to road and rail networks.
Forecasters warned more rain is on its way after a short respite.
And the start to next week doesn't look any better with hail and thunder a possibility.
The Met Office said this morning will be mostly dry and bright in the east and cloudier in the west with a few showers. More persistent and heavy rain will spread into the west during the afternoon adding to flooding problems, with winds strengthening once more.
Tonight, heavy rain will spread east with some drier, clearer spells to follow.
However tomorrow will see heavy rain return with a risk of hail and...
The Met Office and PA Consulting Group last night scooped two awards at the prestigious UK IT Industry Awards - ‘Best use of cloud services’ and ‘IT project demonstrating most effective use of collaborative technology’ - for the Met Office’s Weather Observation Website (WOW).
The winning project, developed by the Met Office with teams at PA Consulting Group and Google, used the Google App Engine to build and host web applications exploiting cloud and collaborative technologies. This allowed the Met Office to launch the WOW service with zero up front infrastructure costs,...
Rob Varley, the Met Office's director of operations and services, has been named Public/Third Sector Director of the Year for his work at the Met Office.
The awards were held in London and recognise leaders from a broad range of businesses which play a vital role in stimulating the economy.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Varley said: "I am delighted to have been selected, from a very strong field, as the winner of this year's award. It is yet another example of external recognition of our commitment to consistent, reliable, high quality delivery and excellent customer...
Arctic sea ice extent has reached its lowest annual minimum since records began, according to preliminary figures from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) in the US.
Sea ice extent was 3.41 million square kilometres (1.32 million square miles) at its lowest point on 16 September breaking the previous minimum of 4.17 million square kilometres (1.61 million square miles) recorded in 2007.
Satellite records began in 1979 and have shown a long-term decline in sea ice.
However, the rate of decline has accelerated in the past 15 years and the last six years make...
