Summary

  • Flooding is reported across the south after heavy rain overnight

  • The highest rainfall in the country was in Otterbourne in Hampshire, where 35.2mm (1.4ins)

  • Train companies have also been badly affected by the deluge, with Great Western Railway warning of disruption all day

  • There have been road and lane closures across the region

  • Cars were left stranded in "thigh-high" water under a bridge in Fareham

  • It comes after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk earlier in the week, which left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding

  1. That's all for todaypublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Thank you for reading our flooding coverage for the south of England today.

    Keep an eye on our pages for Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Hampshire for further updates.

  2. Staying out of trouble on wet roads - a guidepublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Greig Watson
    Reporter, BBC News Online

    Soaking pedestrians by driving through puddles is potentially a criminal offence - and other things motorists in wet weather should be aware of.

    The BBC has put together a guide with information and advice on how best to handle the watery conditions when behind the wheel.

    Flooded roadImage source, PA Media
  3. Ice warning as UK Health Security Agency issues cold weather alert for weekendpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather alert for all of England, external

    and warned that temperatures are set to plummet in the coming days.

    The Met Office has also warned drivers to be cautious of ice developing on roads, and said the chilly temperatures will be caused by high pressure building over the UK.

    The UKHSA's alert says: "A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill.

    "Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late.

    "Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas. It is probable this cold spell may last well into the following week."

    The warning comes into force at 09:00 on Saturday and expires at noon on 12 January.

  4. Heavy rainfall leads to flooding in Hampshirepublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Rising water levels result in impassable roads, abandoned cars and long delays on public transport.

    Read More
  5. Drone footage shows scale of floodingpublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    This drone footage shows the scale of the flooding along the Thames in Oxfordshire, as seen on Friday afternoon

    Media caption,

    Oxfordshire flooding

  6. Residents concerned at flooded Berkshire railwaypublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    A local near Green Park train station in Berkshire expresses his concern that homes could be flooded in the area.

    Del Shackleford, Fisheries officer for Reading & District Angling Association, points out how a flooded culvert, which normally directs water under the railway track, could cause bigger problems for residents.

    Media caption,

    Residents express concern of more flooding in Berkshire

  7. Waterlogged gardens in Newburypublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Relentless heavy rainfall hit Berkshire and flooded neighbourhoods in the county.

    Here is a view of front gardens in Newport Road, in Newbury, after the River Lambourn overflowed.

    Flooded gardens
    Image caption,

    A makeshift barrier of sandbags has been constructed by residents in a bid to stop the water spreading

  8. Abingdon car park underwater as Thames bursts its bankspublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Dr. Mark Shanahan advises us not to use the Rye Farm car park in Abingdon today.

    Messaging BBC South on X (formerly Twitter) he said the River Thames is "running as high as I've seen it in a decade" and that "the river's supposed to be to the right of the trees".

    You can follow us on X here., external

    Rye Farm car parkImage source, Dr. Mark Shanahan
    Rye Farm car parkImage source, Dr. Mark Shanahan
  9. Some places have already had more rain than January averagepublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    BBC Weather

    The new month may be just five days old, but some places have already had more rain than their January average.

    More rain is expected today in the form of showers – however, these won’t make the current flooding any worse with small overall accumulations of rain.

    High pressure takes over next week so it will become mainly dry, allowing time for flood waters to clear.

    A flooded street in OxfordshireImage source, Getty Images
  10. Villagers cleaning up after their home is floodedpublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    People in Steventon, Oxfordshire have been cleaning up their homes after heavy rainfall flooded the area.

    One couple in the village are dealing with the effects of flooding for the second time since 2007.

    Media caption,

    Couple's house flooded for the second time since 2007

  11. Residents unblock drains in flood-hit villagepublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Katharine Da Costa
    BBC South

    Nikki Bolton
    Image caption,

    Nikki Bolton woke to find her kitchen flooded

    The situation is bad here in the Oxfordshire village of Steventon following the heavy rain in the wake of Storm Henk.

    There is no road closure and people are driving through too fast causing a wake along Hanney Street splashing residents who are trying to unblock the drains themselves.

    They feel abandoned by the local authority.

    Nikki Bolton has lived here for 20 years, this is the second time she’s been flooded - last time was in 2007 when it took six months to fix her ground floor.

    She woke up at midnight to three inches of flood water in her kitchen. She’s been up all night trying to get the water out of her home.

    Neighbours here are concerned that development in the area could make flooding worse and that plans for a reservoir nearby will only intensify the problem.

    Unblocking drain
    Image caption,

    Residents unblocked drains

    Flooding in Steventon
  12. What to do if your house has been floodedpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Gem O'Reilly
    Live reporter

    We've been hearing from people all over the country about the impact the flooding has had on their homes, with many saying their contents has been destroyed.

    But what are the advised steps to take if this has happened to you? We've put some together for you:

    1. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. They should be able to advise on any necessary emergency accommodation.

    2. An initial assessment of the damage is super important and a 'loss adjuster' will be appointed to evaluate your claim from your insurer.

    3. Then cleaning and stripping out will be organised by your loss adjuster. This work should start within four weeks of being in contact with them.

    4. You will then need to ensure you disinfect and dry your home. A drying company should be appointed by your insurer. This can take from a few weeks to several months.

    5. Then the repair and reconstruction should begin after you get a drying certificate from your drying company. Your loss adjuster will appoint a builder to do the repair and reconstruction work.

    6. The one you'll be most glad to hear, moving back into your home. Your insurer or loss adjuster will discuss with you when you can return home, for some this can be weeks, for others it can take months.

    The Association of British Insurers is sending out advice today to hundreds of insurance providers, you can read more here., external

    A flooded home
  13. Trains cancelled after station floodspublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    All four tracks at the Newbury Station are submerged after heavy rain caused flooding.

    Read More
  14. Aerial footage shows flooding across Oxfordpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Parts of the city are flooded due to heavy rainfall and the River Thames bursting its banks overnight.

    Read More
  15. Rivers burst their banks in Oxfordshirepublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Twenty-eight flood warnings remain in Oxfordshire, with dozens of properties across the county underwater following yesterday's heavy rain in the wake of Storm Henk.

    Car submergedImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A car is left partially submerged after the Thames burst its banks at Wallingford.

    Flooding in IslipImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Islip resident Doreen Cole in her flooded garden after the River Cherwell burst its banks earlier

    IslipImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Days of heavy rainfall have exacerbated conditions in already saturated parts of Oxfordshire

  16. Newbury station under waterpublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Allen Sinclair
    BBC South Today

    It's immediatley obvious why there are no trains running through Newbury station today - as I look at the tracks, all four are submerged.

    Outside the station there is evidence of the heavy rain we had last night. Drains are bubbling up, spilling water and, unfortunately, sewage across the road towards the entrance to the station.

    Two Thames Water tankers are busy pumping away this surface water. It will be some time before it's clear.

    Newbury StationImage source, Richard Garvie
    Image caption,

    Trains were stopped when Newbury Station began to flood on Thursday

  17. 'The car just literally died'published at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Tristan Pascoe
    BBC Radio Solent political reporter

    Anthony Allcock
    Image caption,

    Anthony Allcock was forced to abandon his car under the bridge

    Anthony Allcock from Barton-on-Sea was driving to collect his daughter from Brockenhurst station when his BMW X3 broke down in floodwater under a rail bridge on Thursday evening.

    As he returned to retrieve his abandoned car, he told me what had happened last night.

    He said: “The roads were very flooded, but another vehicle had come through so I thought ‘it can’t be that bad’ –

    "I didn’t think for a minute I’d have any issues with it.

    “The car just literally died.I jumped into the water. It was almost waste high at that point.

    “It was a mess here last night. I’m not happy, but these things happen – one minute I’m driving to collect my daughter, the next minute I’m swimming."

  18. Aerial footage shows flooding across Oxfordpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Drone pictures from Thom Airs Media have captured the extent of flooding across Oxford this morning.

    Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Thom wrote: "Spot Port Meadow in the distance - looks like Farmoor!"

  19. Can I still travel on GWR trains today?published at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    Jenny Kumah
    BBC South West England Correspondent

    Rail services into the south west continue to face disruption due to flooding - but it is still possible to travel into the region.

    Great Western Railway (GWR) say services between London into Plymouth and Penzance are reduced from two an hour to one an hour.

    Services between Reading and Taunton are cancelled, but it’s possible to get to those destinations by using trains via Bristol - this will add around 40 minutes to your journey.

    The GWR website says services between Swindon and Bristol Parkway and the route between Didcot Parkway and Swindon are cancelled.

    South Western Railway (SWR) says a landslip at Crewkerne mean trains are unable to run between Exeter St David’s and Yeovil Junction.

    The Liskeard to Looe branch line in Cornwall which was closed because of flooding yesterday has reopened this morning.

  20. Abandoned vehicles after evening downpourpublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January

    This was the scene in Poles Lane near Otterborne in Hampshire earlier.

    The area had the highest total rainfall recorded in the country yesterday - 35.2mm.

    Peter Dudgeon captured this image of abandoned cars blocking the road as floodwaters subsided on Friday morning.

    Abandoned vehiclesImage source, Peter Dudgeon