UK weather: Water levels continue to rise in areas hardest hit by Storm Dennis

Nine severe flood warnings – indicating a danger to life – remain in force across England and Wales in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.

The Environment Agency says rivers have been swollen to “exceptional” levels in parts of the UK, and in some areas, water levels continued to rise overnight.

Tuesday is expected to bring a brief respite from the worst of the weather for most, although there is a risk of fresh downpours in Wales.

Further heavy rain is forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, and this could affect already flooded areas.

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: “With the ground being so saturated it’s not going to help the situation.

“And there’s more persistent rain coming on Wednesday. There will be wet and windy weather across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday… with the heavy rain coming back.”

In Wales, two yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued by the Met Office – and they are in force from 6pm on Wednesday until 3pm on Thursday.

Forecasters are warning that the rain “may become persistent, and possibly heavy, over areas of high ground” in the country.

These weather warnings could be extended to the North West of England.

The Environment Agency said about 1,000 staff were on duty on Monday night – with 5km of flood barriers deployed and 90 pumps in action.

In England, the seven severe flood warnings are in place at:

• The River Trent at Burton upon Trent
• The River Wye at Blackmarstone in Hereford and at Hampton Bishop
• The River Severn at Uckinghall and at New Street and Waterside in Upton upon Severn
• The River Lugg at Hampton Bishop.

West Mercia Police said residents in Upton upon Severn and Uckinghall, in Worcestershire, were advised to evacuate yesterday.

Emergency evacuations were also carried out in Hereford, where the River Wye reached its highest level on record.

In Wales, the two “danger to life” flood warnings are in force for the River Wye in Monmouth, where water levels were only expected to peak between 3am and 7am today. Homes there have been evacuated.

Major incidents have been declared in South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire – among the worst affected areas by the weekend’s storm.

Hundreds of properties have been flooded nationwide, and a woman who was swept away by floodwater near Tenbury in Worcestershire on Sunday was found dead on Monday.

A statement from the family of Yvonne Booth, 55, from the Great Barr area of Birmingham, said: “Yvonne is a very much-loved member of our family and we are all devastated by this news.”

The prime minister has been accused of refusing to visit affected communities, with shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard calling Boris Johnson’s response to the crisis a “disgrace”.

Mr Johnson has resisted calls to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee Cobra, which Labour leadership candidate Sir Keir Starmer described as an “appalling decision”.

He added: “The recent flooding is a stark reminder that the government is not doing enough to get to grips with the climate crisis. Ministers should be taking a lead on this situation, not ducking their responsibilities.”

Downing Street said Mr Johnson was receiving regular updates.

(c) Sky News 2020: UK weather: Water levels continue to rise in areas hardest hit by Storm Dennis