A shopping centre in East Sussex has been evacuated due to flooding, as huge downpours continue to batter Britain and more than 100 flood alerts are issued.
The fire service was called to Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings today, as videos posted to social media showed floodwater flowing through the entrance on Station Road.
This comes as parts of the UK were warned of flooding as forecasters predicted heavy showers and 70mph winds.
There are currently 101 flood alerts in England, meaning flooding is possible, and 41 flood warnings which means flooding is expected. Scotland has five flood alerts and eight warnings, while Wales has 12 alerts and one warning.
London, the south of England, the Highlands and north east of Scotland and Northern Ireland are all set to be lashed over the next few days – the worst affected regions could see up to nearly four inches of rain, leading to travel chaos and power cuts.
A shopping centre in East Sussex has been evacuated due to flooding
The fire service was called to Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings today, as videos posted to social media showed floodwater flowing through the entrance
A car travels through the floods in Hastings where a shopping centre had to be evacuated
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SATURDAY: The Met Office has put yellow warnings in place across southern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland
The yellow warnings are continuing to stay in place for the rest of the weekend but only remain in Scotland on Monday
‘We are assisting in dealing with flooding at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, Hastings, which has been evacuated,’ East Sussex Fire Service said in a statement.
Posting on X, the service added: ‘If you have cars in Hastings town centre you are advised to move them due to flooding.’
Meanwhile in flood-prone Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, incredible photos show how large parts have been submerged, with cars left stranded and landmarks surrounded by water after the River Severn reached high levels.
Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: ‘On Saturday we’ve got frequent showers across the south and west which will move across Wales and into the south-east during the morning, before a more general area of cloud and rain moves up, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
‘That will move northern eastwards during the course of Saturday and into Sunday, behind it showers which could be locally heavy and thundery and particularly squally.
‘We do have a yellow rain warning covering London and the south-east until the end of Sunday, talking about fairly heavy rain, 15 to 30mm, some spots could see highs of 50 to 70mm with some strong, gusty winds, there could be some localised impacts.
‘The band of cloud and rain will continue moving northwards during Sunday, especially focused in eastern Scotland, which is already rather sensitive following the high rainfall from Storm Babet, so more unwelcome rain for that patch of the world and we have a yellow rain warning in place there today and tomorrow, talking about 50 to 80mm of rain accompanied by strong, gusty winds of 50 to 70mph.
‘On it’s own the rainfall totals are not that high but given the fact we’ve had all that rain from Storm Babet it doesn’t take much for there to be localised impacts because the ground is already saturated.’
At least nine people died due to the severe weather which came from Storm Babet while hundreds were forced to flee their homes in Scotland and England.
Those with cars parked in Hastings town centre were advised to move them due to the flooding
Parts of Britain are bracing for another deluge as forecasters warn of heavy showers, 70mph winds and flooding to already soaked parts of the UK. Pictured: A commuter struggles with her umbrella in London earlier this month
Vehicles caught in the landslip on the A816 near Ardfern are still stuck today after three weeks
A mist fell over parts of Oxfordshire this morning. Parts of southern England are preparing for yet more rain
In this aerial view Tewkesbury Abbey, at the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Avon, is surrounded by flood waters after the recent Storm Babet on October 27
Stranded vehicles can be seen in a flooded car park in Tewkesbury, as flood warnings remain in place for the Gloucestershire town
Thundery heavy showers and strong winds over the weekend could cause flooding to already soaked parts of the UK. Pictured: Hastings Reptile and Aquatic Centre
A mist is seen over Dunsden, Oxfordshire, this morning as Britons brace for another deluge
Some rail services in Scotland have been suspended, with customers advised to check their journey before travelling.
ScotRail has suspended services from Aberdeen and Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh, while passengers using LNER, TransPennine Express and Lumo were warned of speed restrictions delaying trains between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
At the opposite end of the UK, there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight until at least next Wednesday after flooding left the main tunnel in Ryde under 30ft of water.
The latest Scottish Flood Forecast said ‘significant flooding impacts’ are likely in the north east on Friday and Saturday due to torrential downpours.
The warning for Scotland that is currently in place covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, and Perth and Kinross – most of which saw prolonged downpours cause major problems for residents last week.
The Environment Agency has 41 flood warnings in place, stretching from north-east to south-west England, meaning flooding should be expected.
ENGLAND: There are currently 41 flood warnings and 101 flood alerts in England right now
SCOTLAND: Over the border there are currently five flood alerts and eight flood warnings
WALES: Rain is expected and there are 12 flood alerts, especially on the coast, and one flood warning
They warned: ‘Local flooding is possible but not expected from rivers and surface water in the South of England on Saturday and Sunday. Properties may flood and there may be travel disruption.
‘River flooding continues along parts of the River Severn until Friday. Local flooding is also possible but not expected from rivers and surface water in the East and South of England today, and more widely across England on Sunday and Monday.
‘Local flooding is probable from coastal/tidal in parts of South West and South East England on Saturday and Sunday, and possible on Friday and Monday. Local flooding is possible but not expected from coastal/tidal in the North of England on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
‘Land, roads and some properties may flood and there may be travel disruption.’
In Scotland, flood alerts are in place in Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus, Tayside, Central, Fife.
And in Wales, flood alerts are in place across several parts of the country, including the North Wales coast, West Anglesey coastline and Pembrokeshire coast.
The outlook for next week is for the unsettled weather is set to continue with heavier showers mostly over England and Wales. However, there’s a chance of a deep area of low pressure bringing some further wet and windy weather from the middle of next week.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wardle said: ‘While the start of next week will see this unsettled theme to the weather continue, there’s increasing confidence of a deep area of low pressure influencing the UK’s weather from the west, bringing a more concerted period of wet and windy weather.
‘However, at this range, we’re still determining the exact positioning, depth and likely impact of this system, but it’s something that’s likely to influence the UK’s weather from the middle of next week.’