Storm Ciarán Brings Flood and Wind Havoc Across England
Storm Ciarán’s fierce winds remain the biggest threat, but heavy rain is triggering flash floods and swollen rivers across several regions. Flood warnings are flooding in, with surface water and river flooding expected to hit hard from tonight through Thursday.
Flood Risks Escalate: South Coast to Midlands on Alert
The South West will start soaking from 6pm today, with heavy rain racing through the Midlands, North West, and North East overnight and into Thursday. Flood teams across the country are bracing for coastal and river surges. Expect multiple flood alerts and warnings soon.
Key hotspots include overnight river flooding from Wednesday evening into Thursday and dangerous tides on the South Coast by Thursday morning—especially between Dorset and East Sussex. Exeter’s mobile flood barriers are coming up, and temporary defences are ready along the River Severn.
Environment Agency Urges Public to Stay Safe
Ben Lukey, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, warns:
“Huge waves and strong onshore gales from Storm Ciarán could cause serious flooding along the south coast tomorrow. Minor flooding is expected from Dorset to Sussex tonight and along parts of the North and North East coasts on Thursday.
Significant surface water and river flooding risks stretch across the West, South, and North East of England from today through Friday, with less severe impacts lingering into Saturday due to showers.
Our teams are out clearing debris, operating flood defences, and working closely with local communities to reduce impact. We urge everyone to stay off coastal paths and promenades, avoid driving through floodwaters—just 30cm of flowing water can sweep a car away—and stay alert to warnings.”
Check your flood risk and sign up for free alerts at https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding.
Flood Warnings Amid Staff Strikes, But Preparedness Remains High
From 7am on Friday, some Environment Agency staff plan four days of industrial action. Despite this, the agency stresses it is working hard to keep communities safe.
Even though the storm will have passed by Friday, flood risk persists as rivers could remain high. Automated flood warnings will continue to operate, and the public is urged to heed all alerts and call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 with concerns.
Remembering Storm Babet: Thousands of Homes Flooded
In recent memory, Storm Babet’s floods protected nearly 97,000 properties thanks to the Environment Agency’s flood defences, including 20 high-volume pumps. Over 300,000 flood warning messages were sent out during the crisis.
Tragically, several deaths occurred, with about 2,150 properties flooded. The agency continues investigating ways to improve future flood protection.
The government has activated the Flood Recovery Framework to aid affected communities. The public should sign up for flood warnings and stay updated on safety advice as more heavy rain and tidal floods loom.
