Major Cardiff road floods as Met Office predicts month's worth of rain to fall in hours (original) (raw)

Flood warnings have been issued for parts of the UK and there is a flood warning on one of Cardiff's busiest roads amid concerns that affected areas could see more than a month's worth of rain falling on Monday. On Monday afternoon, police warned of a build up for traffic on Cardiff's Western Avenue, Gabalfa, because of flooding.

A statement said: "Motorists are advised to be cautious, avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Delays are expected."

Rain warnings were in place all weekend with a fresh yellow alert coming into effect at midnight to last all of Monday, covering a large part of Wales, much of the south of England, the Midlands and into north-west England and Yorkshire.

The warning states that heavy rain is expected to affect many parts of England and Wales during Monday. There is still some uncertainty regarding which areas will be affected by the heaviest rain, but at this stage parts of the Midlands, northeast England and east Wales look most likely to see the greatest accumulations.

The forecasting agency says there is the potential that 30-50 mm could develop in any part of the warning area, much of which could fall in six hours or less. Some locations could see 80-100 mm over the course of 12 to 24 hours. The warning is in place all day Monday.

An amber warning came into force at 5am and will last until 9pm, sweeping over Worcester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Hull. Some affected areas could see 100 to 120mm of rain on Monday, and forecasters warned there may be more warnings in the week ahead.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey previously told the PA news agency that Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and up towards the Wash and the Humber could see over a month's worth of rain falling on Monday.

Heavy rainfall overnight has seen areas in Bedfordshire already submerged, with police confirming a number of road closures including Dunstable High Street. Footage shared on social media showed cars battling high water around the Saracen's Head pub.

As of 7.40am, 13 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - were issued for England by the Environment Agency. There are no flood alerts this morning in Wales.

21:14Ben Summer

M4 bridge still closed

The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge remains closed for emergency repairs and will stay closed overnight. The official Severn Bridges account on X said: "The M4 Prince of Wales bridge is closed westbound for overnight emergency repairs. There are currently delays of 30 minutes and approx. 3 miles of congestion on approach to the closure. Traffic is being diverted via the M48 Severn Bridge."

18:59Ben Summer

M4 Prince of Wales Bridge closed

The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge is closed westbound, with queueing traffic due to emergency repairs between J22 (M49) and J23 (M48). This follows an earlier closure of the M48 bridge, which is now open and being used as a diversion. It has not been confirmed whether the repairs are weather-related.

Other than the bridge and the M4 A48 Western Avenue in Cardiff, where there is still slow traffic due to flooding, all other roads in Wales previously experiencing heavy traffic are now clear, says traffic reporting service Inrix.

18:26Ben Summer

Weather warning in place until midnight

The yellow weather warning covering Cardiff and parts of south east Wales runs until 11.59pm tonight. There is a separate amber warning covering areas just across the border in Gloucestershire and across the Bristol Channel, as well as further east towards London, until 9pm.

17:55Ben Summer

Road closed due to "obstruction"

The A4061 between Blackmill and Bridgend is partially blocked in both directions near the Ogmore Junction pub. This is due to an "obstruction on the road."

The A48 in Cardiff remains partially blocked due to flooding. Additionally a lane of the M48 Severn Bridge eastbound is closed due to emergency repairs.

17:03Ben Summer

Heavy rain in Gabalfa as A48 floods

The A48 in Cardiff has flooded, with pictures showing cars having to navigate deep puddles with queues forming behind them.

The A48 in Gabalfa has flooded (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

16:19Ben Summer

Delays on roads after heavy rain

A number of roads in Wales are registering as having delayed or slow traffic today. While not all are confirmed to be related to flooding, many are in areas affected by heavy rainfall. As well as the A48 Western Avenuye in Cardiff, where people are being warned to "approach with care," here are the roads where a longer-than-usual travel time has been highlighted by traffic reporting service Inrix:

15:53Ben Summer

Forecast for this evening

The Met Office's Wales-wide forecast for the evening says: "Becoming increasingly dry and settled tonight with rain clearing to the east. Cloudy, but cooler than recent nights with northerly winds. Minimum temperature 11 °C."

Following this, on Tuesday the outlook is: "A more settled day with a few scattered showers. Skies will be fairly cloudy in the morning, but there will be increasing sunny spells through the day. Maximum temperature 17 °C."

15:09Cathy Owen

Where the road is flooded

Traffic monitors are showing that the A48 Western Avenue is partially blocked in both direction due to flooding between Western Avenue (University Hospital Of Wales) and A4119 Cardiff Road. Approach with care.

15:04Cathy Owen

Flooding on main Cardiff road

South Wales Police are concerned about flooding in Cardiff and are warning motorists to take care.

A statement from police said: "We are aware of a build up of traffic on Western Avenue, Gabalfa, Cardiff due to flooding.

Motorists are advised to be cautious, avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Delays are expected."

14:52Cathy Owen

Heavy flooding in parts of England

Heavy rainfall has seen parts of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and London submerged causing widespread travel disruption and damage to properties.

According to the Environment Agency, at least 45 properties have flooded across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Kent and the Home Counties.

As of 11.45am, 17 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - were issued for England by the Environment Agency. An amber warning came into force at 5am and will last until 11.59pm.

14:42Cathy Owen

Flooding causes delays for train passengers

Heavy flooding on the main line between south Wales and London is causing delays for passengers.

The advice is to check before you travel.

14:35Cathy Owen

Met Office radar update

Continued outbreaks of heavy rain in southern and central parts for this afternoon. The further west you go in Wales today the better.

Radar Update

Continued outbreaks of heavy rain in southern and central parts of the country with some showers now breaking out in the southeast pic.twitter.com/6bKjI5h1RW

— Met Office (@metoffice) September 23, 2024

14:17Cathy Owen

Sinkhole appears at Premier league club's stadium

Premier league club Wimbledon has had to call their midweek match off after a sinkhole appeared at the stadium.

Aerial images have shown the toll heavy rainfall has taken on their pitch, leaving a sinkhole opened up at the Cheery Red Records Stadium.

(Image: PA)

Earlier today, the club revealed that they had to postpone their fixture with Newcastle United.

(Image: PA)

13:40Cathy Owen

More than 350 999 calls made in London

London Fire Brigade said its 999 control officers have taken around 350 calls on flooding across the capital.

Firefighters have attended incidents in areas such as Ruislip, Uxbridge, Wimbledon and Carshalton.

The service said these included rescuing people trapped in cars, assisting people from their homes and responding to flooding in underground stations, roadways, residences and commercial properties.

12:46Cathy Owen

M4 warning from Met Office

The Met Office has a warning for motorists this afternoon: "Heavy outbreaks of rain affecting parts of England and Wales, including the M4 and M5 motorways so take care if you have travel plans"

12:03Cathy Owen

Heavy rain in parts of Wales

There has been some very heavy rain in parts of Wales this morning.

(Image: John Myers)

A yellow warning is in place for a large part of Wales until midnight.

(Image: John Myers)

11:39Cathy Owen

Outbreaks of heavy rain continuing

Here is the latest forecast from the Met Office for this afternoon.

"Outbreaks of heavy rain continuing for many with localised flooding and travel disruption likely."

Outbreaks of heavy rain continuing for many with localised flooding and travel disruption likely

A risk of thunderstorms in the southeast and rain slowly sinking into northern Scotland

Drier and brighter elsewhere pic.twitter.com/OAQgXGu8Os

— Met Office (@metoffice) September 23, 2024

10:44Cathy Owen

What the Met Office say

Met Office chief meteorologist, Frank Saunders said: “Following on from the heavy rain that some of us have seen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the new working week begins with rain across a large swathe of England and Wales. The area with the higher likelihood of impactful rain is now covered by an Amber warning, stretching from Gloucester across the Midlands to the Wash and the Humber.

“It’s likely that some parts of this area will be worse affected than others – it all depends on where, and if, the weather system responsible for the heavy rain stalls and pivots. However, within this warning period - which encompasses two rush hours – some localities will probably see between 50 and 80 mm of rain, while there’s the possibility that a few could experience in excess of 100mm of rain. Where this happens, this brings the potential for travel disruption and localised flooding.”

09:48Cathy Owen

The Met Office forecast for Wales this week

Overcast with widespread rain, heavy at times.

Today:

A cloudy and wet day with outbreaks of rain for many, but drier in the far west. Rain will be heavy and persistent at times, particularly in the southeast. Brighter spells developing in the northwest later. Maximum temperature 18 °C.

Tonight:

Becoming increasingly dry and settled tonight with rain clearing to the east. Cloudy, but cooler than recent nights with northerly winds. Minimum temperature 11 °C.

Tuesday:

A more settled day with a few scattered showers. Skies will be fairly cloudy in the morning, but there will be increasing sunny spells through the day. Maximum temperature 17 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Becoming wet and windy later this week, with low pressure arriving from the southwest on Wednesday and Thursday. Sunshine and showers on Friday, and turning cooler in a northerly wind.

09:10Cathy Owen

Amber warning in place

An amber warning came into force at 5am and will last until 9pm, sweeping over Worcester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Hull. Some affected areas could see 100 to 120mm of rain on Monday, and forecasters warned there may be more warnings in the week ahead.

09:04Cathy Owen

What the warning for Wales says

The yellow warning that is in place for a large part of Wales until midnight says:

Areas of of heavy rain are expected to affect many parts of England and Wales during Monday. There is still some uncertainty regarding which areas will be affected by the heaviest rain, but at this stage parts of the Midlands, northeast England and east Wales look most likely to see the greatest accumulations. However, anywhere within the warning area could have impactful rainfall through the course of Monday. There is potential that 30-50 mm could develop in any part of the warning area, much of which could fall in six hours or less. Some locations could see 80-100 mm over the course of 12 to 24 hours.