FLOODING has led to multiple road closures after a month’s rain fell in just 24 hours in parts of the South East. As commuters battle to make it to work today, here’s the latest on the worst hit areas of the UK. Why were parts of the M25 closed? Heavy flooding in Kent closed all […]
FLOODING has led to multiple road closures after a month’s rain fell in just 24 hours in parts of the South East.
As commuters battle to make it to work today, here’s the latest on the worst hit areas of the UK.
Heavy flooding in Kent closed all lines through Orpington railway station for multiple hours on Monday night.
Police shut a section of the M25 overnight after a single vehicle crashed due to two sinkholes, leading to its closure.
Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit tweeted: “M25 jct 4-5 closed as a result of a single vehicle RTC which in turn has lead to the discovery of 2 sinkholes in the central Reservation.”
Highways England said the road near Sevenoaks would remain closed through the morning rush hour “due to the serious road defect” and advised motorists to follow diversions.
Kent Police also warned motorists of speeding after the river burst onto Junction 2-1 of the M20.
The combination of rain and thunderstorms earlier led the Met Office to issue amber warnings for most of the South East – stretching from Oxford to the Kent coast.
It warned homes and businesses are “likely to be flooded” and “fast-flowing floodwater is possible – causing danger to life”.
These warnings have since been downgraded to less severe – but still impactful – yellow alerts covering the South West, Eastern and Central England.
The Environment Agency has issued three flood warnings in south-east England, for the River Wandle at Morden, south London, the Emm Brook at Wokingham and Ravensbourne at Bromley.
The agency said on its website: “River levels have risen as a result of localised thunderstorms. Flooding of property is expected imminently. Please take action.”
Southern and Thameslink trains have been heavily impacted during the morning commute, with some services delayed or cancelled due to flooding.
Elsewhere, London’s North Circular Road was flooded between Charlie Brown’s roundabout and Waterworks Corner.
Kingston Bridge was closed due to flooding on the underpass and while it was reopened last night congestion in the area was causing traffic to move slowly.
Kent Police earlier warned against all but “absolutely necessary” road travel following a series of collisions.
This morning pictures showed barefooted commuters wading through a flooded subway at Brookwood station in Surrey.
North-eastern parts of England and the Midlands are set to get the worst of the downpours on Tuesday, with a yellow warning in place until midnight.
Torrential downpours are expected to cause local flooding and transport chaos in some parts of the affected region.
By Wednesday, the weather warning is expected to expand to a larger part of northern England and the Midlands, along with northern parts of Wales.
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