More than 120 flood warnings remain in effect across England, Wales, and Scotland as the after-effects of Storm Bert continue to be felt. Heavy rainfall and saturated ground have caused ongoing flooding, with further showers expected today. A severe “danger to life” warning is still in place for the River Nene in Northamptonshire, where the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park has been submerged for the third time this year, prompting evacuations and the declaration of a major incident.
Residents at the holiday park were relocated to an evacuation center overnight on Monday, as the storm brought strong winds and heavy rain over the weekend, leading to at least five deaths. Homes, roads, and rail networks across the country have been significantly disrupted.
While Storm Bert continues to move towards Scandinavia, further showers are expected in parts of south-east, south-west, and north-west England, as well as in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Environment Secretary Steve Reed indicated that the severity of the flooding would be lessened, but he cautioned that more flooding is expected in slower-flowing rivers such as the Severn and Ouse in the coming days.
Currently, there are 116 flood warnings in England, with the majority concentrated in Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, and south-west England. Wales has six warnings in place, and Scotland has one. In Northamptonshire, volunteers from the humanitarian charity React have been assisting those evacuated from Billing Aquadrome by providing essential items such as toothpaste and socks, while another charity has been offering hot meals in the car park. West Northamptonshire Council reported helping 114 people, including 30 families with children.
One long-time resident of Billing Aquadrome, Sam Craddock, spoke about the recurring flooding issues, noting that it was the third or fourth evacuation this year. “The sirens went off. We didn’t expect it to be this bad,” she told BBC Radio 4, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Heavy showers continued overnight, with some parts of south-west England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland experiencing thunder over the hills. On Tuesday evening, another area of low pressure will bring wet and windy weather across England and Wales, with the potential for heavy and thundery rain in southern, eastern, and midlands regions. The Met Office has warned that up to 25mm of additional rain could fall on already saturated ground.
The Met Office has faced criticism regarding its lack of sufficient warnings ahead of the storm’s arrival. However, Simon Brown, the Met Office’s services director, defended the forecast, saying observed rainfall was consistent with the warnings issued but acknowledged that further improvements in preparedness are needed.
In Chippenham, Wiltshire, a clean-up operation is underway following severe flooding in the town. Becky Lyons, owner of Pawesome Pet Shop, described the damage to her store as “carnage” but expressed hope for reopening soon. She thanked the local community for its support during the recovery process.
Transport has also been affected, with National Rail reporting ongoing disruptions in south-west England and Wales, including debris removal between Swindon and Bristol Parkway. Great Western Railway is reducing the number of trains running through Newbury due to platform closures caused by storm damage.
The storm’s toll on human life has been tragic, with five deaths reported over the weekend. North Wales Police confirmed the body of Brian Perry, a 75-year-old dogwalker, was found near the River Conwy after he went missing on Sunday. Mohammed Wahid, 34, was killed when his car collided with a wall in Shipley, West Yorkshire. Additionally, three men died in separate road accidents on Saturday, including a man struck by a tree on the A34 in Hampshire.
As the UK continues to deal with the aftermath of Storm Bert, residents and authorities are bracing for more challenging weather in the coming days.