Summary

  • Flood updates from 16-20 February

  1. No let-up as Dennis flood warnings continuepublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    It comes as more than a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of north-west England.

    Read More
  2. Storm Dennis flooding 'is going to get worse'published at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    The recent flooding is "scary" and "not normal", warns Environment Agency boss Dave Throup.

    Read More
  3. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    This is the end of live updates on the flooding today.

  4. Flooded restaurant may take months to reopenpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A couple who run a restaurant in Bridgnorth badly damaged in floods say it could take until the summer before it reopens.

    The River Severn peaked in the town on Tuesday, leaving a number of homes and businesses flooded. Levels are dropping, but a flood warning remains in force.

    Hamid Zare and Joanna Pokorska-Zare

    Joanna Pokorska-Zare and Hamid Zare (pictured), run the Boatyard restaurant and said they hoped this week's floods would soon be nothing but a "bad memory".

    "At this point we've just got to pick up the pieces and just keep going," Joanna said.

    "We love the place, we love Bridgnorth, we've got a fantastic community around here so we've had a great response from people willing to help.

    "That makes you think 'we've got to make things right'."

    Floods outside restaurant
    Flood damage in restaurant
  5. Flooding eases in Ironbridge as warning downgradedpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A severe flood warning for the River Severn in Ironbridge has been downgraded by the Environment Agency., external

    Ironbridge this weekImage source, Liam Ball

    It's been lowered from the worst level, meaning there's a danger to life, to being a flood warning, meaning flooding is still expected in the area.

    There are still five severe flood warnings in place in the West Midlands,, external two in Herefordshire around Hampton Bishop and three in Worcestershire, covering Upton upon Severn and Uckinghall.

  6. 'Worst flooding since records began'published at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Herefordshire has seen the worst flooding "since records began" - more than 200 years ago, the council's chief executive said.

    Alistair Neill

    Alistair Neill said it had been a "remarkable series of days," which had left more than 300 homes flooded across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

    "We think the number will grow," he added, "when we find out in due course."

    Forecast rain this week would not be as "significant in terms of pure volume," he said allowing the council to move into "recovery mode".

    "But there's more rain next week scheduled."

  7. Call for better flood defencespublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Better flood defences are being called for in Ironbridge after the flooding this week.

    A severe flood warning remains in force, with the Environment Agency saying there is still a danger to life, although the water has started to recede.

    Barriers in Ironbridge this weekImage source, Environment Agency

    The River Severn burst its banks and rose high up the temporary defences earlier this week. , external

    Council leader Shaun Davies wants fast investment from the government for "permanent flood barriers designed into the Wharfage and then flood barriers where there aren't any at the moment".

    Environment Secretary George Eustice has said the government was investing £2.6bn in flood defences.

  8. Improving weather forecast for Fridaypublished at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    From the look of the weather forecast for the next 24 hours, while it is an improving picture in terms of rain, we're not completely out of the woods following Storm Dennis.

    BridgnorthImage source, OpaaA

    Tonight, the West Midlands will see a few showers which should ease, with milder conditions and rain from the west by dawn.

    Then tomorrow should be windy, cloudy and mild through much of Friday with rain spreading in at times from the west.

    Keep up-to-date with the latest forecast for your area with the BBC Weather website.

  9. Worcester still flooded along River Severnpublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Much of Worcester around the River Severn is still affected by flooding this afternoon, even as levels start to drop.

    Swans on the River Severn

    The Environment Agency still has five flood warnings covering the city and the surrounding area, external but said the river had reached its highest level yesterday.

    However, with more rain forecast, levels are expected to stay high.

    The city council's said night shelters will open again tonight for rough sleepers, external and applications for relief funding are open to residents and businesses., external

    The River Severn in Worcester today
  10. River dredging solution 'ineffectual and quite harmful'published at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Calls for more dredging of the River Severn to tackle flooding in Shropshire could do more harm than good, according to a council expert.

    Flooding this week in ShrewsburyImage source, Thistle Treader

    North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson's called for the action, external as part of a new flood defence policy, along with more tree planting and soil management.

    But Dan Wrench, biodiversity officer for Shropshire Council, told BBC Shropshire dredging wasn't the answer.

    "In certain places, where there is particular blockages, around bridges and so forth, you need to have some dredging in those areas to ensure free-flow in those spots, but, by and large, dredging is ineffectual and quite harmful in places," he said.

  11. Forecast rain will lead to 'normal winter floods'published at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Peaks on the Rivers Severn and Wye expected tomorrow will be "significantly less" than levels registered earlier this week, the Environment Agency has said.

    Flood briefingImage source, West Mercia Police

    At a briefing held to discuss flooding issues across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, the Environment Agency's Dafydd Evans said the rain currently falling in Wales would flow down through Shrewsbury (and beyond to Worcestershire) and Hereford.

    Dafydd Evans

    Forecast rainfall over the next few days will lead to "normal winter floods’, not of the level of Storm Dennis, he said.

    "The rainfall total that the Met Office are telling us about are much, much lower than what we had before, so it is saturated and we will see rivers respond to what I would call 'normal winter floods'".

  12. Clean-up under way in Ironbridgepublished at 17:35 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    While there are still concerns over further flooding in Ironbridge, Telford and Wrekin Council says works been under way today to clean-up where teams can.

    It tweeted photos , externalof staff clearing up by the Museum of the Gorge and pumping water from people's homes:

    House being pumped outImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council
    Cleaning in IronbridgeImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council

    There's still a severe flood warning, meaning there's a danger to life, covering the River Severn at the Wharfage, Ironbridge., external

  13. Floods linger in Herefordshirepublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    We've seen better weather in general across the West Midlands today but it's worth showing just how much water's still about after Storm Dennis.

    These two photos are from today in Herefordshire:

    A main road cuts through flooded countryside near HerefordImage source, AFP/Getty Images
    Flooded countryside near Hampton Bishop in HerefordshireImage source, AFP/Getty Images
  14. Households 'must get insured and plan for floods'published at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A flood campaigner urges at risk homes to get insured - and think about how to tackle future events.

    Read More
  15. Bin collections resume in Ironbridgepublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A sure sign that normal service is starting to return - bins have been collected in the Ironbridge Gorge today.

    Telford and Wrekin Council said, external Veolia UK crews managed to get to most areas but would be back for missed collections on Saturday.

    Bin lorry going through waterImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council
    Water on the road in IronbridgeImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council
  16. Free service to collect flood-damaged itemspublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A free service to collect flood damaged items has been set up by Herefordshire Council.

    Residents are being asked to register for the service.

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  17. Vintage bus offers free flood ridespublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    A vintage bus is running a free bus service in Worcestershire due to the floods.

    The busImage source, Wyvern Omnibus

    Private hire firm Wyvern Omnibus usually use their 1956 double-decker vehicle for events and shows.

    But they started running it as a shuttle service in Bewdley yesterday, external due to the River bridge being shut.

    They said on Facebook they're continuing today until 18:00., external

    Several users have praised them, with Bewdley Farm Shop saying, external they're "very grateful for this kind gesture" and Jane Taylor Cohen commenting, external "you did an amazing free service today".

  18. Your photos: Floodwaters slow to droppublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    Even though the weather seems to have improved in Shropshire, there's still a lot of water sitting on land across the county.

    BBC Weather Watchers have been out snapping photos of it and of soggy animals:

    ShrawardineImage source, Trench1968
    Image caption,

    Shrawardine

    Lydbury NorthImage source, Ken M
    Image caption,

    Lydbury North

    LongnorImage source, STFC Goose
    Image caption,

    Longnor

  19. Wye floods worst in 110 yearspublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2020

    We heard earlier in the week that levels on the River Wye in Hereford had reached record levels.

    To put it in perspective, the Environment Agency's Dave Throup shared a post, external featuring measurements on the Belmont gauge just outside the city.

    It showed this week's floods were more than half a metre higher than anything else seen in the last 110 years.

    He said two of the five most severe floods recorded in the area had happened in the last four months.