While storm Floriane is passing through our country and causing a lot of wind, all hands are on deck in various places in the United Kingdom to evacuate people from flooded areas.
Last weekend the United Kingdom had to brace itself for heavy snow and icy conditions. Now it is floods that are playing tricks on the British. The British Environment Agency has issued no fewer than 173 flood warnings, warning that a flood is expected. In addition, 315 warnings were sent to let people know that flooding is possible. There are also warnings of flooding and snowfall in Wales and Scotland.
According to British weatherman Phil Morrish, the Leicester district would receive as much rain in 24 hours as it usually does in three weeks. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel and certainly not to drive through flooded areas. Several train tracks are closed and many highways are also closed.
Dozens of schools in the area had to close again on the first day of school after the Christmas holidays. “I have 30 staff who can’t get into school,” says Will Teece of Brookvale Groby Learning Campus in Leicestershire. BBC. “Some are stuck in traffic, others cannot get here because the road is closed or because parts are flooded. This is not how I wanted to start this semester but unfortunately we have no other choice.”
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Wales and Scotland, it is mainly snow that causes problems. In North Yorkshire there are according to The Telegraph customers of the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub, have been stuck in the pub since Sunday. A total of 32 guests, including a four-year-old child and six staff members, are trapped in the snowbound inn. Fortunately, the atmosphere there is good, according to Australian customer Paul Wright: “There is a nice group of people here. The people who run this place are warm, welcoming and friendly.”
Code yellow was announced again on Monday for a large part of the United Kingdom. There is a snow and ice warning in place for most of South West England, Wales, parts of North West England and the West Midlands. This warning applies from Monday 5 p.m. to Tuesday 10 a.m.
The same warning applies to the west and north of Scotland, but it is in force for longer. Namely from Monday 4 p.m. to Tuesday 12 p.m. In Northern Ireland, the warning applies from 3pm on Monday until 11am on Tuesday.
A separate snow warning is in force for the south of England from 9am on Wednesday until midnight.