Flood alerts and travel disruption - what you need to know as downpours lash Birmingham

Harry Leach

22 May 2024 at 3:52 am·3-min read

Previous flooding in Tamworth. -Credit:Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live

Flood alerts have been issued across the West Midlands with river levels rising after a night of heavy rainfall. Four flood alerts were in place in the region today, May 22.

Transport bosses also warned motorists and train passengers to plan ahead of their journeys with disruption expected on tracks and roads. It came after The Met Office issued a 'heavy rain' weather warning for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands yesterday - and warned there could be 'danger to life'.

The yellow flood warning will remain in place until 6am on Thursday, May 23. The Met Office warning read: "Heavy rain may cause some flooding and disruption to travel. Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads."

Flood alerts

Four flood alerts were in place in the region this morning, May 22. River levels were rising near Warwick's Old Budbrooke Road as a result of persistent and heavy rainfall.

Consequently, flooding of roads and properties nearby was possibility today, forecasters warned. Flooding might also affect properties along Lodge Crescent.

Other flood warnings in place were for the River Cole, River Stour/Smestow Brook and upper River Tame:

River Cole - River levels are rising at the Swans Barn gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall. Flooding may affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to River Cole between Majors Green and Coleshill
River Stour and Smestow Brook - River levels are rising at the Swindon river gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is possible this afternoon and overnight
Upper Tame - River levels are forecast to rise at the Brookvale Road gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall today. Flooding to affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Tame, between Horseley Heath and Castle Vale, and the Ford Brook between Walsall and Bescot

Transport bosses issued a warning on Gov.uk which read: "Please avoid using low lying footpaths and bridges near local watercourses. Plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."

Travel disruption

Network Rail this morning warned passengers to expect disruption - including potential cancellations - to train services running between Birmingham International and Coventry. It said: "Due to heavy rain flooding on the railway between Birmingham International and Coventry, trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

"As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised." The disruption was expected to last throughout rush hour. Below is a list of routes which were facing disruption:

Avanti West Coast services between Blackpool North / Birmingham New Street / Edinburgh / Manchester Piccadilly / Shrewsbury / Wolverhampton and London Euston
CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street / Manchester Piccadilly / Nottingham and Bournemouth
London Northwestern Railway services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston / Northampton
West Midlands Railway services between Birmingham New Street and Coventry

Network Rail has warned train passengers to plan their journeys ahead of time due to travel disruption. You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner.

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Flood alerts

Travel disruption

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