Clean-up starts amid warnings over flooding in Suffolk

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

Live Reporting

Rachael McMenemy and Shariqua Ahmed

Video shows rough seas battering cliffs at Hemsbypublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Waves continue to crash on to the Norfolk coast but Hemsby appears to have avoided the worst for now.
These pictures were taken during this morning's high tide, which has since receded, while winds have died down this afternoon.
BBC Radio Norfolk reporter Andrew Turner told us earlier he had seen some minor erosion but had not heard about any properties being affected.
Seven schools now closed in Norfolkpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Norfolk County Council, external says seven schools across the county have now closed because of flooding or weather-related issues:
- All Saints CE VA Primary in Winfarthing - school now closing due to flooding of access road. Work will be posted online
- Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy - closed early due to the extreme weather conditions. Parents have been asked to collect their children as soon as they are able to
- Chapel Green School - closing due to rain. The roads to and from Old Buckenham are almost impassable. If you are able to come and collect your child please do. Transport is on its way. If your child is on transport they will be home early
- Hapton CE VA Primary School - closed due to flooding of access roads. Online work provided
- Old Buckenham Primary School and Nursery - school has closed from 13:00 BST today due to the severe weather conditions and flooding around the local area
- Sporle Church of England Primary Academy - closed early due to the extreme weather conditions. Parents have been asked to collect their children as soon as they are able to
- The Compass, Pott Row - closed to all children due to extensive flooding within the school and no heating
Deep water in Suffolkpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
The state of the roads in Suffolk....
Image source, Sophie Myers
Image caption,
Far from ideal driving conditions on the High Street, Debenham
Image source, Bonny Catlin
Image caption,
Wet weather in Wetherup Street, Wetheringsett
Image source, Jamie Niblock/BBC
Image caption,
Traffic has been backed up on the A12 near Woodbridge
Image caption,
Wellies are required as water threatens to enter M&S at Martlesham
More than 40 weather-related road emergenciespublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Suffolk Highways says so far it's had more than 40 "weather-related emergencies, external" today due to the storm.
It says its teams are working with the emergency services across the county and urges motorists to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary.
It also says the following are badly affected by flooding and should be avoided:
- Straight Road in Ipswich
- Bridge Street in Kelsale
- Farmerie Road in Sudbury
- Valley Wash in Hundon
- Compiegne Way in Bury St Edmunds
'Situation is rapidly evolving' - Buckinghamshirepublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Some roads in Buckinghamshire are impassable, a number are closed due to flooding, and the "situation is rapidly evolving", the council's highways officials warn.
Posting on X, external, they wrote: "Bishopstone Road, Aylesbury is currently impassable due to severe flooding & there is extensive flooding on London Road, Wendover.
"We're also attending to & dealing with other emergencies across the network & the situation is rapidly evolving. Please bear with us."
Slopping around in Suffolkpublished at 12:39
There's a lot of rain in Suffolk today - and it could go on for a while. Here's a selection of photos from our Weather Watchers...
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/DarkSkies
Image caption,
Did you put welly boots on your shopping list? This is in Martlesham, and captured by DarkSkies
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Bettys Hot Spot
Image caption,
I'm already wet enough, thanks - taken in Waldringfield by Bettys Hot Spot
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Game
Image caption,
Brooding clouds gather over Mendham - captured by Game
In pictures: High tide recedes at Hemsbypublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
The water level has dropped after high tide on the Norfolk coast in the past hour, but the sea remains rough in strong winds.
Image source, Alex Dunlop/BBC
Image source, Alex Dunlop/BBC
Police in Haverhill urge people not to travelpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Roads in the Haverhill area of Suffolk are in a bad way, police say.
Posting on X, external, Haverhill Police writes: "Please stay home and avoid travelling if possible.
"Most of our roads are impassable at the current time.
"Particularly Hundon, Cavendish and the A143 at the crossroads at Wickhambrook."
Lanes around Honingham 'are jammed'published at 12:01 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Matt Precey
BBC Look East
The lanes around Honingham in Norfolk are jammed as traffic is diverted off the A47 due to the flooding.
Very slow moving as cars, vans and lorries try to pass each other on the narrow roads.
Image source, Matt Precey/BBC
The verges are being churned up, turning the roads into a mud bath in the relentless rain.
One driver said he was facing a four-hour drive once he got out of the jam.
Miserable.
Ten schools in Suffolk closedpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Steve Martin
BBC Radio Suffolk
Ten schools in Suffolk are closed today as a result of the weather or flooded roads:
- Clare Community Primary School
- Creeting Primary School
- Debenham High School
- Helmingham Primary School and Nursery
- Mendham Primary School
- Otley Primary School
- Riverwalk School, Bury St Edmunds
- Somersham Primary School
- St Edmund's Primary School and Nursery, Hoxne
- Stour Valley Community School
Hemsby appears to have avoided the worstpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
BBC Radio Norfolk reporter Andrew Turner is in Hemsby and says the sea is still rough, but had receded after high tide.
"I have seen lumps of sand and marram grass coming down from the cliff and going across the beach into the water," he says.
"There has been some erosion but I haven't heard of anything that has had an effect on property."
'Cliff at Hemsby appears to be holding, for now'published at 11:44 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Our reporter Alex Dunlop is in Hemsby, where high tide has arrived and the coast continues to be battered by heavy rain and strong winds.
He said: "The access road to 18 properties on the Marrams is holding.
"Winds are gusting at up to 55mph but the cliff appears to be holding, for now."
Second school closes in Norfolk due to floodingpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
A second school in Norfolk has closed due to flooding.
The Compass Pott Row school in Grimston, near King's Lynn, announced earlier it was closed due to flooding within the school, and no heating.
All Saints Primary at Winfarthing has also closed, due to flooding on an access road.
Hemsby braces for high tidepublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
High tide is at 11:21 BST on this stretch of the Norfolk coast, at a height of 3.2m (10.5ft).
Hemsby is already being battered by gusty winds and heavy rain this morning.
The area has suffered from severe erosion in recent years, destroying homes and putting others at risk.
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Deep water making it difficult for cars near Peterboroughpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
David Keller
BBC News
There are reports of flooding on the A605 around the Elton turn, a few miles west of Peterborough.
Posts on social media say the water is high enough in places that cars have stopped and can't get through.
The road is a major lorry route between the A1, A14 and A45.
Further south in Cambridgeshire, social media users have reported flooding on roads around the church in Burwell.
As Hemsby awaits high tide - there's heavy rain elsewhere in Norfolkpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
As BBC reporter Alex Dunlop has shown, conditions in Hemsby are getting wild as high tide approaches.
Elsewhere in Norfolk, Weather Watchers users have been showing how other parts of the county are looking.
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Walking Tractor
Image caption,
"The warm glow of a cosy, dry shop on a very wet Friday morning in London Street, Norwich," says Walking Tractor of their image
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Simon Luckman 1988
Image caption,
Taken in Great Yarmouth by Simon Luckman 1988
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Tavy and Belle
Image caption,
You won't be sitting on that, today - taken at East Winch by Tavy and Belle
Drivers warned to avoid flooded roadspublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Suffolk Highways, external, part of the county council, is warning drivers about "localised flooding" following heavy rain overnight.
A spokesperson says: "Please do not drive through standing water, it is always safer to find an alternative route. Floodwater may take 24 to 48 hours to clear.
"If you spot an area of concern, call 0345 606 6171."
The A14 at Claydon was closed for a while last night because of flooding and part of the A140 at Brockford is flooded this morning.
There is also flooding to some homes in Needham Market and reports of "heavy flooding" in Great Cornard.
Some drivers have been spotted taking their chances on Barking Road near Needham Market.
Image source, Luke Deal/BBC
Image source, Luke Deal/BBC
It's wet in Essexpublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Weather Watchers have been out capturing the rain across Essex this morning:
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/William Clacton
Image caption,
Clacton-on -Sea earlier, taken by William Clacton
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Sunny Sim
Image caption,
A very wet Frinton-on-Sea was photographed by Sunny Sim in the early hours
High tide approaching at Hemsbypublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Media caption,
At the scene: Our reporter at Hemsby beach
BBC reporter Alex Dunlop is at Hemsby, Norfolk, where the high tide is expected at 11:21 BST.
The village has been ravaged by coastal erosion and residents fear more land could be lost, along with properties.
Cambridgeshire in the rain - and a squirrel!published at 10:48 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Here are just a few of the BBC Weather Watchers pictures of a very wet Cambridgeshire:
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Hayley85
Image caption,
Hayley85 captured this adorable chap sheltering under his own mini umbrella in Cherry Hinton
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/alpaca lady
Image caption,
Here's Alpaca Lady's photo of a very wet Ramsey St Mary's
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Daves Patch
Image caption,
And Daves Patch was busy watching his feathered friends getting wetter and wetter in Yaxley