Weather: Flood Warnings As Tidal Surges Hit

Some roads are now under water and rivers have burst their banks as parts of the UK are deluged by further flooding.

At least eight severe flood warnings, which indicate a risk to life, were in place for England and Wales as heavy rain and strong winds, combined with exceptionally high tides, struck western parts.

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Among the areas affected were the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Newport in South Wales as the latest violent storm swept in from the Atlantic.

Two of the severe warnings were for the South West, with three in Wales and three in the Midlands.

Over the next few hours, high tides will threaten coastal communities further north up to Liverpool and Belfast.

Further inland, the risk is that rivers - already swollen from weeks of rain -  will rise still further and burst their banks.

Eight severe flood warnings have been issued

Around 130 flood warnings (meaning flooding is expected) and 230 less serious alerts are also in place, affecting every region of England and Wales.

Flooding in Lynmouth, north Devon

The Thames Flood Barrier has been closed due to a high flow of water over Teddington Weir combined with a spring tide.

It is has also been announced that December 2013 was the wettest month in Scotland since records began in 1910.

In Cornwall, there has been flooding in areas including Penzance, Newquay, Looe and Polperro and there have been road closures. In Devon, towns including Kingsbridge and Salcombe were affected.

This was the scene in Kingsbridge, Devon. Pic: norsphoto/Twitter

But the situation in the two counties has been slightly better than was anticipated, according to the RNLI.

Spokesman Tom Mansell said: "There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting."

He added a man in Cornwall had a "very lucky escape" when his car was swept away as he wave-watched.

There are around 130 flood warnings for England and Wales

"People think they are in a strong metal box but moving water on tarmac becomes very buoyant," he said.

One man in Penzance was evacuated from his home after it was "severely affected" by floods.

In Christchurch, Dorset, the River Stour burst its banks. Sky's Stephen Douglas at the scene said: "A number of homes have been evacuated so people are listening to the warnings hoping it doesn't get any worse than this."

In Burrowbridge, Somerset, the River Parrett burst its banks as did the River Severn in Minsterworth, Gloucestershire.

The scene in the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire

Some roads in Gloucestershire were "impassable" due to flooding, including in Tewkesbury.

In the South East, Yalding in Kent was deluged again overnight but not on the same scale as over Christmas, according to reports.

The unsettled conditions in the UK are expected to remain for the next few days, forecasters say.

Flooding in Salcombe, Devon. Pic: RNLI

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "We will continue to see the risk of further flooding as more rain falls on already saturated ground. However, this is not our only concern.

"Very strong winds today, combined with spring tides will bring big waves that could cause coastal flooding, mainly across western and southern coasts of the UK.

"The area most at risk today will be the south-west of England where the second high tide today will be during this evenings rush hour time.

Floods in Newport, South Wales

"Tonight the winds will ease, but rain is expected across southern parts of England and Wales by the morning. This rain will spread north on Saturday. On Sunday more rain will spread across all parts of the UK and next week remains unsettled with further downpours."

There are also suggestions that there may be snow across northern England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Saturday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 38 flood warnings for Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside and West Central Scotland.

There are flood warnings all across the UK

In Northern Ireland, police have warned the docks area close to Belfast city centre could flood in a tidal surge later.

Residents of Sydenham in east Belfast had been told to pack a bag and prepare for potential evacuation. Sandbags were distributed to the public through the night while the authorities built up river defences.

But later, officers said the densely-packed neighbourhood may avoid "serious flooding".

Assessments for Londonderry, Killough, Newcastle, Newry, Larne and Strangford areas also showed a slightly reduced flood risk from what had previously been expected.

A train passes through the coast at Saltcoats in Scotland

In the Irish Republic, forecasters have issued a "status orange" weather warning, with gusts of up to 80mph hitting Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

High tides, strong winds and rainfall have caused flooding in parts of Cork, Galway, Salthill, Waterford, Tralee, Clare and Mayo, while the River Shannon has burst its banks in Limerick.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who will chair another emergency meeting later in London, said: "The Environment Agency and local authorities have teams on the ground monitoring the situation as it emerges.

"With a number of severe flood warnings still in place I urge everyone to follow the advice from the Environment Agency and police and to take every precaution."

A search for a 27-year-old man who was swept out to sea while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends near Porthleven, in Cornwall, was called off on Thursday after a body was found.

That came after a woman, thought to be on holiday with her family, died in the surf in north Devon.

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