The Environment Agency and the Met Office are warning of the need for vigilance ahead of further severe weather this weekend forecast as Storm Dennis is set to arrive in the UK on Saturday.

Paul Gundersen, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office commented:

“Storm Dennis will bring a disruptive spell of weather over the weekend, and there are warnings in place for strong winds and heavy rain. In parts of Devon, South Wales, northern England and a swathe of southern England - stretching from Andover eastwards - rainfall is expected to be particularly heavy and persistent, and these areas are covered by amber warnings because of the risk of flooding and other disruption.”

Heavy, persistent rain on Saturday and Sunday is likely to bring significant river and surface water flooding to parts of England over the weekend -the Environment Agency is warning that as many as 800 homes could be flooded.Current forecasts indicate a heightened risk of flooding across much of southern, central and northern England this weekend, with impacts continuing in some slower responding rivers into Monday and Tuesday.

A major incident has been declared in Yorkshire where Kirklees Council is advising residents to prepare for another weekend of extreme weather.  

It has been an exceptionally wet winter so far with autumn rainfall records being broken for South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. England as a whole had its fifth wettest autumn on record.

The Environment Agency is operating flood defences and flood storage reservoirs, and is ready to issue flood warnings and advice to those at risk ahead of the incoming weather. The Foss and Hull Barriers are already in operation, helping to protect thousands of properties.

Environment Agency teams have also put up additional temporary flood barriers today in Shrewsbury and Bewdley on the River Severn and Billington and Ribchester River Ribble to provide additional protection to communities ahead of expected high river levels brought by the heavy rain.

there are 12 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 98 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, in place across the country.

Caroline Douglass, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

“We have teams out across England today continuing to prepare for the severe weather that we are expecting over the weekend. The above average rainfall that we have seen since the autumn means that we’ll be seeing rain falling on already wet ground, leading to an increased risk of flooding.

“We are already operating our large flood defences, including the Foss and Hull Barriers, as well as our flood storage reservoirs right across the country to reduce the risk of flooding.

“Our operations teams are also out on the ground putting up temporary flood barriers and installing mobile pumps where needed to help keep homes and businesses safe from rising river levels.”