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Storm Dennis: Heavy rain sees river in flood-ravaged town reach highest level in 200 years

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer
Updated ·4-min read

A river in Hereford has reached its highest level in at least 200 years in the wake of Storm Dennis lashing the area with torrential rain.

The River Wye reached 20ft (6.11 metres) – its highest since records began – on Monday, with residents in Hereford saying they had never seen anything like it.

Over the weekend, the River Taff in Pontypridd reached its highest level in more than 40 years and the River Usk reached the highest level since 1979.

The River Trent, which had prompted a severe flood warning for Burton-on-Trent, also peaked at a record level of just below 4 metres on Tuesday.

A care home resident is pulled to safety by rescue workers as floodwater surrounds the village of Whitchurch in Herefordshire, after the River Wye burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
A care home resident is pulled to safety by rescue workers as floodwater surrounds the village of Whitchurch in Herefordshire, after the River Wye burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (PA)
A van sits in floodwater near the village of Hampton Bishop near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
A van sits in floodwater near the village of Hampton Bishop near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks. (PA)

Hundreds of properties have been flooded and at-risk areas evacuated across England and Wales after the downpours brought to the UK by Storm Dennis.

Flood-hit communities are braced for further heavy rain as river levels continue to threaten to breach barriers.

Read more: Remarkable drone pictures show flooding devastation

Kate Marks of the Environment Agency (EA) said that even though Storm Dennis had passed, "we'll be feeling the impacts for a few more days”.

"There's a lot more water in the river systems. In particular we are worried about the Rivers Severn, Teme and Wye," Dr Marks said.

Both the Rivers Wye and Severn will remain especially high into the weekend.

Floodwater surrounding the village of Hampton Bishop near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
Floodwater surrounding the village of Hampton Bishop near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks. (PA)
Weather warnings remain in place on Wednesday. (PA)
Weather warnings remained in place on Wednesday. (PA)

Unprecedented

West Mercia Police said an estimated 384 properties had been "significantly impacted by the floods" across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Residents in the Shropshire towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth were urged to evacuate their properties, while residents in Bewdley near Kidderminster were warned flood barriers at Beales Corner might not be able to withstand the rising water levels.

Read more: Constituent left red-faced as MP she insulted rescues her from Storm Dennis

Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss said: "Water levels have been unprecedented in many places and the impact of such high-levels of flooding has been substantial across all the agencies, but more significantly to members of the public affected in any way.”

The EA said 599 properties had been flooded across England as of Tuesday afternoon. Some 800 homes in Wales had been directly affected by flooding, first minister Mark Drakeford told the BBC.

Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday February 18, 2020. Severe flood warnings remain in place in the wake of Storm Dennis, with more rain expected to fall later this week. See PA story WEATHER Storm. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Floodwater surrounds Upton on Severn, Worcestershire. (PA)
Flood water remains in Yalding, Kent, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
Floodwater in Yalding, Kent, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (PA)

Risk management

More than 6km of temporary flood barriers have been erected across the country and flood defences have protected nearly 25,000 properties from the impacts of the storm, the EA said.

But record-breaking river levels and continued rainfall means further flooding is possible across much of the country, said EA executive director of flood and coastal risk management John Curtin.

"We expect further disruptive weather into tomorrow and Thursday, bringing a significant flood risk to the West Midlands, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England," he said.

A nearby resident making their way down a road in a canoe in Monmouth, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
A resident makes their way down a road in a canoe in Monmouth, Wales. (PA)
Floodwater surrounding the village of Hampton Bishop near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
Floodwater in the village of Hampton Bishop, near Hereford, after the River Lugg burst its banks. (PA)

Weather warnings

The Met Office said rain would start to build up in the west from mid-morning on Wednesday.

Over the next two days there could be up to 100 millimetres of rain in north Wales and 50-60mm in south Wales.

Read more: Minister says climate change means government can’t protect everyone from flooding

The rain will then move north, with Cumbria and Yorkshire likely to be most affected.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for persistent rain in Wales and North West England for Wednesday and Thursday, and the north of England on Friday into Saturday.

EA manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dave Throup said the level of flooding had left affected parts in "uncharted territory”.

A member of Lidl staff takes a look at flood water outside the back of the store in Monmouth, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
A member of Lidl staff takes a look at floodwater outside the back of the store in Monmouth, Wales. (PA)
Temporary flood barriers hold back the river Severn in Ironbridge, Shropshire, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis.
Temporary flood barriers hold back the River Severn in Ironbridge, Shropshire, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (PA)

Six severe flood warnings remained in place on Wednesday morning: for the River Wye and the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop; for the River Severn at New Street and Waterside, Upton on Severn; and for the River Severn at Ironbridge and Uckinghall.

In Wales, two severe warnings in place on the River Wye at Monmouth were downgraded by Natural Resources Wales, although the Wye bridge in the town remained closed.