Rotherham United v Ipswich Town postponedpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 20 October 2023Breaking
Ipswich Town Football Club says tonight's Championship match at Rotherham has been postponed, external.
Summary
Heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding in parts of the East of England
A major incident is declared in Suffolk, with warnings flood levels could rise further
A yellow warning for wind is active until 12:00 on Saturday
Multiple flood warnings are in places around the East of England
Framlingham is among the worst-hit areas
About 30 people spent the night at Debenham leisure centre after being forced to leave their homes
Large parts of Ipswich are without water, with other parts of the town facing low pressure on supplies
Rotherham United v Ipswich Town postponedpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Road closure in Grundisburghpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Water levels have risen in Grundisburgh, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, and the road is now partially closed.
Image source, ContributedForty pupils stranded at schoolpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Image source, ContributedImage caption, Parts of Framlingham are underwater
Some 40 children at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham are struggling to get home as flooding affects the town and surrounding villages.
Staff and children had been "amazing", said headteacher Philip Hurst, as bus companies attempted to make it through the floodwater and ferry students home.
"We're expecting the school to be open until the last child can get home safely," he added.
"We made quite an early decision to close but we started off by contacting the bus companies and what we wanted to do was to give families and children as much chance to get children home in daylight.
"We asked children to stay in lessons, some of the buses were able to go, and we managed to get them down to year groups and now all the children are in one area."
Describing the rainfall, he said: "The guttering and the drains were really struggling; the water pressure was immense."
What is a major incident?published at 16:37 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Image source, Shannon Eustace/BBCAs you will have read, a major incident has been declared in Suffolk.
A major incident is called when one or more of the emergency services experience "beyond the business-as-usual response activity".
Jon Lacey, chief fire officer for Suffolk, said it was declared by the fire and rescue service, which was called to 25 incidents across the county.
"When we have flooding in several areas, the resources become stretched and we have to call a major incident to ensure we focus co-ordination across our county, with every responder," he told BBC Suffolk.
"We are responding and we are monitoring the situation to make sure we are looking at the next few hours and days and providing a business-as-usual response to other incidents."
He said affected areas were too numerous to mention and advised listeners to check flood alerts and warnings., external
"The key message is don't go out if you don't have to," he added.
Firefighters come to the aid of St Osyth residentspublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
In Essex, firefighters have been working to pump floodwater away from houses in St Osyth.
"Crews have been working to pump the water away from the houses alongside partners in Tendring District Council and the water company," Essex Fire Service posted on X, external.
Image source, Essex Fire ServiceRailway between Stowmarket and Norwich blockedpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greater Anglia says various parts of the route between Stowmarket in Suffolk and Norwich are blocked due to flooding.
"Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until further notice," it says, external.
Proof that it might be good to stay inside if you canpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
We've seen several photos showing blocked roads in Framlingham and the surrounding area.
This was sent to us from Earl Soham, Suffolk.
Image source, Contributed'Don't travel unless absolutely essential'published at 16:10 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
A reminder from Suffolk County Council: "A major incident has been declared in Suffolk due to heavy rain and flooding across the county.
"People in Suffolk are being asked not to travel unless absolutely essential."
Image source, Suffolk County CouncilThe council says to head here, external if you need more information.
Thetford topping the rainfall chartpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Dan Holley
BBC Look East weatherMany parts of the East of England have received more than a month’s worth of rain since yesterday evening. Here are some of the highest totals so far:
- 80mm in Thetford, Norfolk (to 15:00 BST)
- 76mm in King’s Cliffe, Northants (to 15:15)
- 76mm in Charsfield, Suffolk (to 15:00)
- 75mm in Wattisham, Suffolk (to 15:00)
The October average for East Anglia is 65mm.
Rain will slowly ease in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire into this evening, eventually becoming drier across most of Norfolk by late evening – but an additional 5 to 10mm could still fall in these areas in the meantime.
BBC Suffolk broadcasting special flooding showpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Listeners in Suffolk are getting a dedicated local afternoon show from presenter Wayne Bavin in the wake of a major incident being declared.
"Team Suffolk, we are very aware that things are not looking great in your county right now," Louise Hulland told listeners on BBC Radio Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
"Because of these extraordinary circumstances we appreciate everyone needs something a little different."
The broadcast switched to Wayne's show from 16:00 BST in Suffolk.
Louise will continue to broadcast her show as normal until 18:00.
More train cancellations and delayspublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Here's the scene in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where passengers are finding trains to London and elsewhere have been cancelled.
The advice is to check before you travel.
Greater Anglia says services between Ely and Peterborough are disrupted due to a track defect between Ely and Manea, external. It says no rail replacement services are available.
Image source, James Lanceley/BBCTen flood warnings issued across Suffolkpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Ten flood warnings - meaning action is required - have been issued across Suffolk.
You can enter your postcode here, external to check if there is a flood warning or alert near you.
Image source, Gov.ukHere is the government's advice for people living in an area where a flood warning is issued:
- Move vehicles to higher ground if it’s safe to do so
- Move family and pets to safety
- Move important items upstairs or to a safe place in your property, starting with cherished items and valuables, then furniture and furnishings
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if it’s safe to do so; never touch an electrical switch if you’re standing in water
- If you have property protection products such as flood barriers, or air brick covers, use them now
Flooding widespread in Suffolkpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
As these photos show, the steady rainfall throughout the day has meant several parts of Suffolk are flooded.
Thank you to the BBC Weather Watchers users for their contributions. Please do send us yours if you've got something to share.
Image source, Weather Watchers/dinosaur duncImage caption, Rattlesden, by dinosaur dunc
Image source, Weather Watchers/SueImage caption, Little Glemham, by Sue
Image source, Weather Watchers/Robo FlopImage caption, Debenham, by Robo Flop
Very wet in Hemingstonepublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
As rain continues to fall in Suffolk, this garden in Hemingstone is looking pretty wet.
Image source, Weather Watchers/windymiller
Image source, Weather Watchers/windymillerA47 in Norfolk likely to remain closedpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Norfolk Police says the A47 at Easton and Honingham is "likely to be closed for the rest of today and well into tomorrow".
In a statement on X, external, it said National Highways was at the scene and handling road diversions.
Major incident in Suffolkpublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
As reported a short time ago, a major incident has been declared in Suffolk and people are being asked to travel only if necessary.
This Weather Watchers photo from Lex, taken in Stradishall, shows what could face those who decide to venture out.
Image source, Lex/Weather WatchersAnd it's also looking bad in Framlingham.
Image source, Hazik/Weather Watchers
Image source, Hazik/Weather WatchersConcerns remain about tonight's high tide in Hemsbypublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
The helmsman of Hemsby Independent Lifeboat says he remains "moderately worried", despite avoiding any serious cliff collapse earlier.
Chris Batten said: "The wave height is not quite as high as we expected but it’s still doing a fair bit of damage to the south dune.
“We’ve lost about one to two metres round by the slipway.”
Asked how he felt ahead of the next high tide at 23:42 BST, he said: "Moderately worried.
"I think the forecast has been updated a bit and we’re hoping the wind will change direction.
"But we’re still losing more and more dunes as each wave hits the shoreline.
"We’re worried, we’ve got to make contingency plans for every eventuality.
"We’re going to stay here because we may have to evacuate the station at short notice."
Delays and cancellations on trainspublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greater Anglia says several trains have been cancelled due to the weather today.
Some services between Norwich and London have been cancelled, as have trains between Norwich and Lowestoft.
It says there are delays between Colchester and Ipswich, and alterations to services between Stowmarket and Norwich.
Greater Anglia's website, external has the latest information.
Major incident declared in Suffolkpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
BreakingPeople in Suffolk have been asked not to travel unless "absolutely essential".
Jon Lacey, Suffolk’s chief fire officer, said: "The continuous heavy rainfall across Suffolk is causing severe flooding in several locations, but is also making driving conditions more dangerous for everyone.
"We are therefore asking people to travel only where it is absolutely essential – for example collecting a child from school, accessing medical treatment or returning home from work.
"Reducing non-essential travel means more people stay safe and pressure on the emergency services is reduced.
"Although the Suffolk Resilience Forum will continue to do all it can to help protect our county, everyone needs to take precautions to ensure they do not put themselves in danger.
"We are responding whilst monitoring the situation closely and while the rain is forecast to ease over the weekend, we must all take action to ensure lives are protected."
Mussel festival cancelledpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
The White Horse in Brancaster, Norfolk, says it's had to cancel its planned mussel festival.
The coastal pub posted on Instagram, external saying if it went ahead, customers would "need your swimming costumes".
Image source, Instagram/White Horse Brancaster