Latest news with #floodalerts
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Texas floods raise questions about delays in emergency alert notifications
Leaked audio suggests a significant delay in issuing emergency flood alerts in Texas on July 4, despite an early request from a local firefighter. A firefighter reportedly requested a CodeRED alert at 4:22 am as the Guadalupe River rapidly overshot its banks, rising 26 feet in 45 minutes. Local officials, including the Kerr County Sheriff and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have defended the alert timeline, citing the complexity of issuing warnings and inadequate federal forecasts. The National Weather Service had issued a 'life-threatening flash flooding' warning for Kerrville at 1:14 am, over three hours before initial flood reports, with experts praising their forecasting. Questions have also been raised regarding the county's failure to install emergency weather sirens and the potential impact of staffing cuts to the National Weather Service.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Here comes the sun! Brits are in for damp day or two before ANOTHER heatwave hits... and summer finally seems to stick
Brits will be needing both an umbrella and their sun cream only days apart as the weather in the next few days is set to swing from one extreme to another. Thunder and lightning were seen across the UK yesterday, with flood alerts in place in some areas of England. But as the clouds begin clearing up today with some light showers, the country is looking ahead to its third heatwave of the summer, with the mercury hitting above 30C by the end of the week. However, the muggy weather will stay into the nights, making it difficult for some to sleep. Hay fever sufferers will also be cursing the heatwave as they will be blighted by high pollen count. Today will be drier and brighter for many, with lengthy sunny spells, though a few showers lingering in the southeast, which could be heavy at times. In the north, it will be cloudier with patchy rain as well as cooler. From tomorrow til Thursday, high pressure from the west will build bringing widely dry, settled conditions for the south. Further north it will be breezier with spells of rain at times but temperatures on the rise nonetheless. Wednesday is looking to be the start of the warm period, with the weekend predicted to stay in the low 30s. The duration of the hot spell remains difficult to gauge, and there are uncertainties about just how high temperatures will rise. It also appears as though the UK will avoid the stifling weather of the high 30s and low 40s seen in the Mediterranean. The heat will feel unrelenting for many, as the UK will have only just come out of its second heatwave last week and the warmest June on record for England. Marco Petagna, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'I think Wednesday is probably going to be the day when we could start to reach the thresholds of 25 to 28 degrees, depending on where you are. 'But of course, you need three days at those temperatures for it to be able to be called a technical heatwave. 'So, although the temperature will be reaching the criteria, we probably won't actually reach an official heatwave until around Friday, to give the three consecutive days at those temperatures. 'But temperatures are going to continue to climb as we go toward the end of the week and certainly by Friday and Saturday we could see 30 degrees, perhaps just nudging into the low 30s. 'At the weekend, we could just start to see humidity increasing a little bit as well and nighttime temperatures look like they are going to be, so it will be starting to become more uncomfortable by night.' Mr Petagna added: 'It's a bit of a question mark going through the weekend early next week as to how long the heat will last and how high the temperatures will get, because some models are sort of pushing the heat away a bit more quickly, whereas others keep the heat going. 'At this stage it looks as though certainly into next weekend, we should hold on to hot weather across the south of the UK and temperatures could again certainly get into the low 30s in a few spots. 'And we are going to see some very high pollen and very high UV levels as well. 'But at this stage, we've managed to escape some of the very highest temperatures, those seen across Spain and Portugal in particular, where it has reached the mid-40s.' The hot spell comes after a yellow warning was activated for the East of England, East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber between 7am and 7pm yesterday. The Met Office warned on the weekend that hail, flooding and lightning strikes may be possible in these areas that will result in damage to some buildings. Specific areas that were set to be impacted by the adverse weather conditions include Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire. Thunderstorms were expected to cause widespread travel disruption with the Met Office saying there is 'a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.' Locals were also told to expect delays to train services. Parts of eastern England were ready to see a downpour of 15-25 millimetres of rain which some feared would lead to flooding of homes and businesses. The heavy rain came as relief for some after the UK soldiered on through two heatwaves last month which posed a 'risk to life'. Met Office figures showed that England saw its warmest June on record with a mean temperature of 16.9C, and the second warmest for the UK overall since records began in 1884 with a mean temperature of 15.2C. Sunseekers basked in searing 34.7C in St James's Park, London, on July 1 as the UK saw its hottest day of the year reached. It followed the warmest and sunniest spring on record for the UK. Scientists warned the searing temperatures earlier in June were made 100 times more likely because of human-caused climate change. In Bedfordshire, the council gritters were dispatched to protect the roads and provide grip for drivers amid concerns the heat could cause the tarmac to soften. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated a five-day warning starting last Friday due to concerns that there could be 'a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions'. The amber heat health alert covered the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, alongside Somerset - where Glastonbury was roaring ahead. Meanwhile, Europeans were warned to stay indoors as the continent goes on high alert for extreme 47C heat. Indeed, a new Spanish high temperature record for June of 46C was confirmed on June 28 by the AEMET - Spain's state meteorological agency. Forest fires and flash floods wrecked chaos across the continent, with warnings of an intense heatwave. Sweltering infernos melted roads in Italy while raging wildfires tore through Greece. Two-thirds of Portugal were be on high alert last week for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42C expected in the capital Lisbon. It was so hot that Sicily and areas of northern Italy banned outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day. In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 portable fans were distributed to schools to help students cope with the heat. As July kicks off, forecasters said temperatures in the mid-30Cs are still relatively uncommon for the month in the UK, although they are becoming increasingly frequent with climate change.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood warnings in South West after heavy rain
Flood warnings have been issued across the south-west of England after heavy rain and some stormy conditions were forecast in the region. The Environment Agency (EA) issued four warnings urging people to "act now" in Devon, along with one warning for part of Exmoor in Somerset. EA officials said flood waters might be deep fast-flowing in the warning areas. It also issued 11 flood alerts - with 10 in Devon and one in western Cornwall - with river levels expected to be high on Saturday following heavy rainfall overnight. The EA has issued flood warnings in the following areas: River Avon at South Brent, Avonwick and Aveton Gifford River Avon from Didworthy to Aveton Gifford River Dart from Buckfastleigh to Totnes including Staverton River Yeo (Creedy) from Yeoford to Fordton River Exe at Winsford and Bridgetown Flood alerts have been issued by the EA in the following areas: Exmoor Rivers Lower Taw area Lower Torridge area North Dartmoor Rivers Upper Tamar Rivers River Teign area River Dart area South Devon area River Yealm River Plym and Tory Brook West Cornwall Rivers More details can be found on the agency's flood alerts and warning website. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Landslip closes Dartmoor railway line in Devon Rain and thunderstorm warning brought forward Heavy downpours and flooding shut roads Environment Agency
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Flood warnings in South West after heavy rain
Flood warnings have been issued across the south-west of England after heavy rain and some stormy conditions were forecast in the Environment Agency (EA) issued four warnings urging people to "act now" in Devon, along with one warning for part of Exmoor in officials said flood waters might be deep fast-flowing in the warning also issued 11 flood alerts - with 10 in Devon and one in western Cornwall - with river levels expected to be high on Saturday following heavy rainfall overnight. The EA has issued flood warnings in the following areas:River Avon at South Brent, Avonwick and Aveton GiffordRiver Avon from Didworthy to Aveton GiffordRiver Dart from Buckfastleigh to Totnes including StavertonRiver Yeo (Creedy) from Yeoford to FordtonRiver Exe at Winsford and BridgetownFlood alerts have been issued by the EA in the following areas:Exmoor RiversLower Taw areaLower Torridge areaNorth Dartmoor RiversUpper Tamar RiversRiver Teign areaRiver Dart areaSouth Devon areaRiver YealmRiver Plym and Tory BrookWest Cornwall RiversMore details can be found on the agency's flood alerts and warning website.
