Wash land in Northampton will start to store up floodwater again this afternoon, as the Environment Agency issued a medium flood risk for an area near the River Nene.
Heavy rainfall last night and this morning is expected to saturate land near the Cogenhoe Mill caravan park, with the Environment Agency monitoring the situation.
A spokesman said: “A low pressure system moving across the country is causing heavy and persistent rainfall over the Nene catchment.
“Overnight we have recorded around 20 mm of rain and we expect to see a further 15 mm of rain for the rest of Thursday. River levels in the Nene are rising.
“Currently Northampton wash land is not storing water but this is expected to start later this morning. This warning will be updated as the situation changes.”
Peter Angelides, the manager of Billing Aquadrome, from where residents were evacuated after flooding last month, said holiday homes there were not currently in danger.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency said large swathes of the Midlands. southern and south western England and south east Wales should prepare for the possibility of flooding on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
Areas of England and Wales were last month engulfed by flood water that surged through streets and down roads, cutting off whole communities and
forcing dozens to flee their homes. Rivers burst their banks and fields were flooded as several days’ rain fell in just a few hours.
With the ground already saturated, the wet weather is likely to lead to property flooding from rivers and surface water as well as disruption to
road and rail networks.
The counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Northamptonshire are particularly at risk, and people are being urged to
keep up to date with the latest information from the Environment Agency website, sign up to free flood warnings, check their route for
disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater.
Craig Woolhouse, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare
for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly.”
Forecasters this week warned people to expect up to seven days of unsettled conditions as a series of wet weather systems engulf the UK.
Those in areas at risk should check the Environment Agency website for the latest information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood and sign up
for free flood warnings on the Environment Agency’s website, or by calling the Environment Agency Flood Line on 0845 988 1188.
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