News / Society

Met Office warns of heavy rain, severe storm

Thursday, 10 December 2015 4:16 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 10 December 2015 4:16 PM ]

Army deployed to rescue Storm Desmond flood victims.

Britain is bracing for more torrential rain as parts of the country are still reeling from flooding brought by storm Desmond.

According to the Met office, central regions are in the firing line for the worst of the deluge although heavy rain threatens more misery for the flood-ravaged north. Another 12 inches is forecast to hit in just 48 hours this weekend, it said.

The new forecast comes as residents in northwestern England began the arduous cleanup process after last weekend’s flooding continued to recede on Wednesday.

Stormy weather flooded towns and cities in northwestern England on December 7, 2015.

Torrential rains and strong winds caused by Desmond left one man dead in London and hundreds of others homeless and without power. Many rivers burst their banks, with the water reaching waist height in some places. Authorities later called in army personnel to help put down sandbags and evacuate people.

Thousands of families living close to river banks are told it could be a year before they can return home. The cleanup bill is also expected to top £500 million.

Weathermen say after a slightly calmer week in parts, Britain is braced.

Although the Met Office has not identified a specific storm for another major onslaught over the next three days, the next in the series may be Eva after Desmond.

"We are expecting a much wetter period again and an increasing risk of some more serious flooding with more prolonged rain falling on saturated ground, and already very high rivers”, Leon Brown, forecaster, for The Weather Channel UK, said.

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