Train stations underwater, drivers rescued from flooded roads & M5 closed as heavy rain hits & UK braces for 60mph wind

BRITAIN is bracing for gale-force winds of 60km/h, with storms already leaving train stations under water and motorists stranded on the flooded M5.

The Met Office has forecast a month’s worth of rain within hours and has now issued a high wind warning after trees were downed and planes made hard landings.

People carrying umbrellas brave the rain on the Millennium Bridge in London todayCredit: PA

An Aer Lingus plane landed unevenly due to strong winds at Leeds Bradford Airport this morningCredit: LNP

A pedestrian keeps her hair dry with a jumper on London Bridge on FridayCredit: George Cracknell Wright

The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning todayCredit: MET Office

A tree blown down by gale-force winds blocking a road in Sompting, West SussexCredit: Dan Jessup / Eddie Mitchell

A falling tree crashes to the ground and hits a brand new £200,000 Lamborghini Urus on Goodge Street in central LondonCredit: @sibs22/TikTok

Winds of up to 60mph are expected to hit on SundayCredit: MET Office

Waves crash against the lighthouse at Seaham Harbour, County DurhamCredit: PA

Commuters brave heavy rain and flooding on the A3 in New MaldenCredit: LNP

Taxis splash on a waterlogged Euston Road in London Credit: Rex

Flooding in central York this morning where the River Ouse burst its banksCredit: LNP

The latest warning covers parts of south-west England and Wales from 9am until midnight on Sunday.

People commuting to and from work and to shops were filmed holding on to upturned umbrellas in a desperate attempt to prevent themselves from getting wet.

Last night a falling tree crashed to the ground hitting a brand new £200,000 Lamborghini Urus in central London.

Meanwhile, the Chiltern Main Line is blocked in Oxfordshire between Banbury and Bicester North with one station left looking like a Venetian canal.

The River Ouse burst its banks causing severe flooding at York and Telford United’s football ground The Seah Stadium turned into a lake.

It comes as a yellow warning for rain was issued by the Met Office for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, and a separate yellow warning for rain for large parts of England and Wales, both of which ended this morning.

Amber warning areas including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands were hit by flash floods as the Met Office said the regions could see 30-40mm of rain within three hours.

CHAOS IN THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

Rail services between Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands were cancelled, with disruption lasting throughout the morning, following severe flooding at Wellington station and a previous tree on the line.

Trains between Peterborough in the East Midlands and London’s King’s Cross were delayed due to flooding.

The Marston Vale line in Bedfordshire, which runs between Bedford and Bletchley, was suspended until Monday due to standing water on the track.

The Met Office is warning of MORE flooding with fears of morning chaos and communities being cut off

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said it was working with National Highways South-West to rescue people stuck on the M5 in Gloucestershire after heavy rain flooded the motorway.

National Highways said the motorway was closed northbound between J16 and J14 and the southbound carriageway was closed between J14 and J15 while emergency services worked to clear the flood.

Councils and emergency services in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire have confirmed a number of road closures.

Tewkesbury Town Council in Gloucestershire is handing out sandbags to residents to protect their homes from flooding.

The Environment Agency has issued 63 flood warnings across England, meaning further flooding is expected, and 120 flood warnings, meaning flooding is possible.

Recent flooding in areas including Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire has brought extensive travel disruption and property damage.

A fallen tree falls to the ground and hits a brand new £200k sports car

A falling tree crashes to the ground and hits a brand new £200,000 Lamborghini Urus on its way down.

A clip shared on social media yesterday captured the dramatic moment unfolding on Goodge Street in central London.

The SUV was parked on the side of the road when a passing truck hit a tree that has reportedly been a hazard for some time.

The tree then fell onto the road, hitting the front of the car, a Lamborghini Urus Performante, which is worth a staggering £202,000.

The tree can just be seen coming down sharply behind the truck as it drives away, landing with an alarming crash that was met with gasps from passers-by.

A gaping hole can be seen on the top of the truck, potentially caused by hitting a tree.

As he pulls away, the driver seemingly oblivious to the carnage behind him, the Lamborghini’s hazard lights begin to flash.

The person filming left in disbelief at the damage caused syas: “Ouch, Lambo (sic). My God.”

He approaches the car to inspect the damage the tree has done to the vehicle as the street begins to fill with passers-by who have rushed to see what has happened.

The trunk and a man standing in the road block the view of the front of the car, so it is unclear how much damage there is.

The video was shared on social media yesterday (THURSDAY) with the caption: “The sh**t I’m witnessing is madness.

“A 2024 Lamborghini Urus Performante was crushed by a tree behind Oxford Street.”

It has since received over 2,700 likes and more than 370 comments from social media users sharing their reactions.

One said: “That tree [is] in addition to my work. Too many times [a] the truck hit the tree that was supposed to fall. No one notified the council or the fire department. Bad luck for Lambo (sic).”

Another wrote: “Actually lucky he didn’t kill anyone.”

Another commented: “It’s a Lamborghini. Admittedly, there is a hassle, but there is money to deal with it.”

The fourth said, “But why are there trees there? There are plenty of forests and gardens for trees, you don’t need to plant them on the pavement that overhangs the road.”

Another joked: “God’s work, will the insurance pay out?”

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said northern and central parts of England and Wales were worst hit yesterday and the effects were continuing.

He said: “There will continue to be localized flooding. Many of these areas have been hit by rain over the past few weeks, meaning the ground is already saturated.”

However, he said that as Friday progresses “we expect it to moderate and become a bit drier”.

On Thursday evening, a truck clipped a tree and crashed it onto a sports car Credit: @sibs22/TikTok

A car battles flooding in Bedfordshire this morningCredit: Stephen Huntley/HVC

The Chiltern main line is blocked and one station looks like a Venetian canal Credit: Twitter/@NetworkRailBHM

The M5 near Bristol is closed due to floodingCredit: National Highways

SEAH Stadium, home of Telford United, is under water Credit: PA

Staff clear mud at AFC Telford football stadium after heavy rainCredit: LNP

Floodwater in Bedfordshire this morningCredit: Stephen Huntley/HVC

Severe flooding left cars stranded on the M5Credit: Twitter

Wet and windy weather in London on Friday for commuting to school and work after days of heavy rainCredit: Pixel8000

A man moves his car in central York as the River Ouse rises with intense overnight rainfall causing flooding Credit: Glen Minikin

A tree has fallen in Sompting, West Sussex, blocking a road Credit: Dan Jessup / Eddie Mitchell

“But rivers often take time to react so we expect disruption to continue in central and southern parts throughout the morning. Those planning to travel on Friday should take this into account when planning their travel.”

Around 385 properties were flooded in the counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Kent and Home, according to the Environment Agency.

WEEKEND COOLING

Things are expected to turn cooler over the weekend as the rain clears.

Bureau of Meteorology deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said yesterday: “The rain will lighten southwards during Friday allowing arctic air to cross the country.

“This gives a much cooler but quieter break in the south on Saturday, although some showers will spread across northern areas.

“An area of low pressure then moves in from the southwest later in the weekend and moves across the UK during Sunday and Monday.

“While there is still some uncertainty about the exact behavior of this system and where any impacts may be seen, it will bring the potential for wet and windy weather late Sunday and early next week.

“Stay up to date with the latest forecast for your area.”

UK weather forecast for 5 days

Today

Morning heavy rain has brightened central and southern parts of the UK.

Then a clear day for many, with sunny periods and occasional showers.

A cooler day than of late, especially in the south with a strong northerly wind.

Tonight

Showers tending to become confined to the northwest during the evening and overnight.

Dry in many areas, with prolonged clear periods. A cold night follows, with possible frost in places.

Saturday

Most places dry with sunny periods. Scattered showers in NW parts, most common in Scotland. Quite a cold day for many with the wind easing.

from Sunday to Tuesday

Wet and windy weather is slowly moving north-eastwards across the UK through Sunday and Monday, mainly affecting England and Wales. On Tuesday, it will gradually dry and clear from the west.