Hundreds of flood warnings and travel disruption after Storm Chandra brings heavy rain
Flood warnings and alerts rise after Storm Chandra
Hundreds of flood warnings and flood alerts were issued after Storm Chandra brought heavy rain across the country, triggering disruption to roads, rail services and flights. The changing conditions also prompted additional weather warnings, including an alert for ice covering large parts of the UK.
By Wednesday morning, England had 99 flood warnings in place, where flooding is expected, and 260 flood alerts, where flooding is possible. Elsewhere, Wales recorded three flood warnings and 16 flood alerts, while Scotland had eight flood warnings and eight flood alerts in place.
The impacts were not limited to Great Britain. Northern Ireland recorded particularly heavy rainfall in places, with Katesbridge seeing 103mm of rain on Tuesday, according to the Met Office.
Major incident declared in Somerset as flood risk remains high
Somerset declared a major incident on Tuesday evening, reflecting the scale of the response required as heavy rain moved through an already saturated landscape. The council said the risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors “remains high as rainwater moves through the system”.
Somerset Council estimated that around 50 properties were affected by flooding across a number of locations, including Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel.
Council leader Bill Revans said the decision to declare a major incident was taken so the area would be “well placed to respond” as the situation developed. He described how Storm Chandra brought more than 50mm of rain to parts of Somerset overnight, falling on land that was already waterlogged, and said the conditions had caused “widespread disruption”.
He also urged the public to avoid unnecessary journeys and warned people not to attempt to drive through flood water. With the forecast still difficult, he said the council would continue working with emergency service colleagues to ensure preparations were in place should conditions worsen.
Emergency response and rescues from vehicles in floodwater
Emergency services were called to incidents linked to flooding and storm impacts. Firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles in floodwater on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed there were no casualties.
Images shared by Axminster Fire Station showed multiple vehicles in floodwater, underlining the risks faced by drivers when roads become inundated. The rescues came amid repeated warnings from local leaders and emergency responders not to enter floodwater, whether on foot or by car.
Road closures across the South West and beyond
Flooding and storm-related hazards led to multiple road closures, particularly across south-west England. Among the closures was the A30 in Devon between the B3174/B3180 junctions near Ottery St Mary and the B3184 for Exeter Airport.
Major routes were also affected. The M5 southbound between Cullompton and Exeter was closed on Wednesday morning due to flooding. In Somerset, the A303 was closed between the A3088 and the A37.
Disruption extended well beyond the South West. In Northumberland, the A1 south of Berwick-upon-Tweed was also closed. In Scotland, fallen trees caused the A82 north of Spean Bridge to be closed southbound, while the Bridge of Orchy on the A82 was closed to high-sided vehicles.
These closures reflected a mix of hazards associated with storms: standing water and flooding in some areas, and debris and fallen trees in others.
Rail disruption and advice not to travel on some routes
Rail passengers also faced significant disruption. Great Western Railway advised customers not to travel between Exeter St Davids and both Okehampton and Barnstaple. Services in Somerset and Cornwall were cancelled on Wednesday.
In Scotland, ScotRail said speed restrictions were expected to remain on services between Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow Queen Street until 10am on Wednesday. National Rail warned that disruptions could continue until Friday, indicating that the effects of the storm and its aftermath were likely to be felt for several days.
Domestic flight cancellations affect multiple airports
Storm Chandra also disrupted air travel. Domestic flights were cancelled on routes serving a range of airports on Tuesday, including Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester and Southampton.
The cancellations added to the wider transport challenges faced by travellers, as road closures and rail disruption reduced alternatives for those attempting to move around affected regions.
Weather warnings for ice and further rain
As the storm’s heavy rain moved through, additional hazards emerged. Yellow weather warnings for ice were issued for Wednesday morning, covering much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and southern and central Scotland. The warning highlighted the risk of slippery surfaces following the wet conditions.
Looking ahead, the Met Office also issued a yellow weather warning for rain for south-west England on Thursday. Forecasters said further rainfall could bring more flooding and transport disruption, adding to concerns in areas where the ground was already saturated and rivers and drainage systems were under pressure.
Storm impacts seen across the UK and Ireland
Storm Chandra’s impacts were visible across a wide area. Photographs taken across the UK and Ireland showed search and rescue workers in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, vehicles on flooded roads in Kent, and snowfall in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham.
The range of scenes captured the varied nature of the weather event, from flooding in some locations to wintry conditions in others, and reflected how quickly conditions can change during and after a storm.
What the flood warning levels mean
Flood messages are typically issued in different categories, and the latest figures showed a large number of warnings and alerts in place at the same time. In England on Wednesday morning, there were 99 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 260 flood alerts, where flooding is possible.
These categories are important for the public because they indicate the likelihood and immediacy of flooding. A warning suggests that flooding is expected and that action may be required, while an alert indicates a risk that conditions could worsen and that people should stay aware of updates.
Public safety advice amid flooding and disruption
Officials in Somerset urged residents and travellers to avoid journeys where possible and warned against driving through floodwater. That message was reinforced by the rescues carried out after vehicles became stranded in floodwater.
With multiple road closures, rail cancellations and warnings of further rain, the situation underlined how quickly travel can become difficult during severe weather. The combination of saturated land, heavy rainfall and subsequent ice risk can create changing hazards over a short period.
Storm Chandra added to the season’s named storms
Storm Chandra is the latest storm to be named by the western Europe storm naming group list shared between the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The naming system is designed to provide a consistent way of communicating significant weather events that may bring impacts such as flooding, transport disruption and safety risks.
For communities dealing with flooding and for travellers facing disruption, the days following a storm can be as challenging as the event itself. With warnings still in place and further rain forecast for parts of the South West, authorities continued to monitor conditions and prepare for the possibility of additional impacts.
Key points at a glance
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts were issued after Storm Chandra brought heavy rain.
Somerset declared a major incident, with the risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors described as remaining high.
On Wednesday morning, England had 99 flood warnings and 260 flood alerts; Wales had three warnings and 16 alerts; Scotland had eight warnings and eight alerts.
Katesbridge in Northern Ireland recorded 103mm of rain on Tuesday, according to the Met Office.
Yellow weather warnings were issued for ice on Wednesday morning across large parts of the UK, and a yellow warning for rain was in place for south-west England on Thursday.
Firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles in floodwater, with no casualties reported.
Road closures affected routes including the A30, M5 southbound, A303, A1, and Scotland’s A82, with closures linked to flooding and fallen trees.
Rail and air travel were disrupted, with cancellations and speed restrictions affecting services and routes across several regions.