Amber weather warning for Bedfordshire as flood alerts in force and roads remain closed

An amber weather warning is in force for Bedfordshire
-Credit: (Image: Met Office)


Flood alerts and warnings remain in force across Bedfordshire on Thursday (September 26) - as heavy rain is expected overnight. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning which covers the north of the county between 6pm on Thursday and 6am on Friday (September 27).

The rest of the county is also covered by a yellow weather warning for rain, which is in force until 9am on Friday. The latest hour-by-hour Met Office weather forecasts for Luton, Bedford, Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable all forecast heavy rain throughout the night and into Friday morning.

The amber weather warning states: "Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight. Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.

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"This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears."

The A421 in Bedfordshire is flooded
The A421 in Bedfordshire is flooded -Credit:National Highways

The A421 remains closed in the county after flooding at the weekend. National Highways has a traffic diversion in place and work is ongoing to pump millions of litres of water off the carriageway.

Elsewhere on the county's roads, Bedford Borough Council said Harrold, Oakley, Felmersham and Radwell bridges are closed until further notice. The A428 has reopened at Turvey however.

A Luton Council spokesperson said: "We are prepared as well as we can be and our gully cleaning crews out today but when lots rain comes down in a short space of time there is more chance of flooding on roads in some areas."

Flood alerts and warnings in Bedfordshire
Flood alerts and warnings in Bedfordshire -Credit:Environment Agency

A number of flood alerts, which mean flooding is possible and people should be prepared are in force in Bedfordshire. As of 4pm on Thursday, these are in force for the following locations:

  • River Ouzel from Leighton Buzzard to Willen, including Clipstone Brook and Water Eaton Brook.

  • River Ivel from Langford to Blunham, including the rivers Purwell, Hiz, Flit and Hit

  • Middle River Great Ouse from Newport Pagnell to Roxton

Flood warnings, which mean flooding is expected and that people should 'act now' are also in place on some waterways in the county. As of 4pm on Thursday, these are:

  • Leighton Buzzard: Globe Lane in Leighton Buzzard, Stapleford Mill, Bragenham Side in Stoke Hammond and Mill Lane in Great Brickhill

  • Langford: Langford Garden Centre, Common Road, High Street, Riverside Gardens, Wilmon Court, Ivel Close and Mill Lane

  • Sandy: New Road, Bedford Road, Girtford Bridge, Great North Road, Rivermead Gardens, McMurdo Court, Church Path, London Road, Poplar Close, Sandford Rise, Braybrook, Western Way and Nursery Drive in Sandy

  • Blunham: Ridgeway, Wellsfield, High Street, Tempsford Road, Grange Road and Mill Lane in Blunham

  • Bedford: Marina Court, the brewery on Havelock Street, St Paul's Square, Duckmill Lane, Longholme Boating Lake, Priory Marina, the hotel and girls school on Cardington Road and Castle Mill

  • Bedford: Palgrave Road, Cauldwell Street, Holme Street Holt Row, Melbourne Street, Heron Quay, Riverside Square, Kingsway, St John's Street, Rays Close, Duckmill Lane, Chethams, Cardington Road, Kingsbrook Road, Lindisfarne Priory and Castle Mill Cottage

  • Turvey: Bridge Street, Mill Lane, Cranes Close and Copymoor Farm in Turvey

  • Harrold: The Green, Church Walk, High Street, Hall Close, Carlton Road and Harrold and Odell Country Park in Harrold.

  • Odell: Horsefair Lane and Mill Lane in Odell.