Flooding map shows 214 flood warnings across England

Flooding, travel disruption and power cuts expected after Met Office upgrades weather warning

Jimmy Nsubuga and James Hockaday
Updated ·5 min read
Newhaven, East Sussex, UK. 2nd Jan, 2024. More spectacular scenes off the channel coast at Newhavens West arm lighthouse as Storm Henk whips up the surf with stronger winds than recent Storm Gerrit. This picture monochrome. Much disruption in the area due to fallen trees & flooding. Credit: David Burr/Alamy Live News
The coast at Newhavens West arm lighthouse in East Sussex was battered as Storm Henk whipped up the surf. (Alamy)

The after-effects of Storm Henk are continuing to be felt, with over 200 flood warnings in place for the country.

The Environment Agency currently has 214 flood warnings in place – meaning that flooding is expected, while there are another 272 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for rain across south England until 3am on Friday, with much of the area already affected by groundwater caused by Henk. It added there is a “small chance” that communities could become cut off by flooded roads because the spell of rain on Thursday was falling on already saturated ground.

Train operators have warned more services could be cancelled as people across the south of England face further warnings of flooding, power cuts and road closures. Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, Great Northern Rail and Southern Rail all warned of severe delays and cancellations as the wind damages overhead wires and trains, with trees also being blown down onto tracks.

Hathern, Leicestershire, UK. 2nd January 2024. UK weather. A Fire Fighter checks inside a car stranded in flood water. High winds and heavy rain are battering a large swathe of the UK as the small but potent Storm Henk hits. Credit Darren Staples/Alamy Live News.
A firefighter checks inside a car stranded in flood water in , Leicestershire. (Alamy)

Several major roads in England were closed due to flooding, National Highways said.

Gusts reached speeds of 94mph on Tuesday as Henk battered large parts of southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales. Gusts of 81mph were reached at Exeter Airport in Devon, and top winds hit 71mph at the Isle of Portland in Dorset and also at Mumbles Head in Glamorgan.

The Environment Agency’s flood alerts and flood warnings can be found here.

Icons with red borders show where flooding is most likely to occur as Storm Henk hits the UK. (Environment Agency)
Icons with red borders show where flooding is most likely to occur as Storm Henk hits the UK. (Environment Agency)

Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK according to the Met Office.

London and the South-East

  • Thursday

Wind and rain, heavy at times, arriving from the southwest overshadowing a bright start to the day. Strongest winds along coastal regions. Maximum temperature 10C.

  • Friday to Monday

Cloud with some sunny spells through Friday, remaining dry. Winds easing through the morning and feeling cooler, with maximum temperatures of 7C. Sunny spells and showers through the weekend, turning increasingly dry by Monday. Temperatures dropping with frosts likely. Light winds.

Heavy rain is expected across the south of England later on Thursday. (Met Office)
Heavy rain is expected across the south of England later on Thursday. (Met Office)

South-West

  • Thursday

Persistent and heavy rain likely in southern parts of the region, potentially becoming widespread later in the afternoon. Less windy than earlier in the week but feeling colder. Maximum temperature 10 °C

  • Friday to Monday

Scattered showers continue through Friday, interspersed with some brighter spells. Breezy in coastal areas, with lighter winds inland, potentially feeling chilly in exposed areas. Maximum temperature 10C. A dry weekend with plenty of bright spells and light winds, continuing into Monday. Some early morning fog is possible in places as temperatures remain lower than recent days.

Midlands

  • Thursday

Clouds setting in through the afternoon, with the possibility of rain. Light winds and feeling cool, with maximum temperatures of 8C.

  • Friday to Monday

Cloudy with some sunny spells, with coastal showers spreading inland through the afternoon. Light winds and feeling rather cool. Maximum temperature 7C. Generally dry weather during the weekend – often fairly cloudy with some sunny intervals in the West Midlands and some showers in the East.

North-East

  • Thursday

Showers confined to higher ground in the west in the afternoon after a wetter start to the day. Best of any cloud breaks in the east. Turning colder, with light winds. Maximum temperature 7C.

  • Friday to Monday

Cloudy with some sunny spells, coastal showers spreading inland through the afternoon. Light winds and feeling rather cool. Maximum temperature 6C. Sunny spells and showers through the weekend, turning increasingly dry by Monday. Temperatures dropping with frosts likely. Light winds.

North-West

  • Thursday

Another day of scattered showers and sunny spells, some of these on the heavy side before becoming mostly dry by the afternoon. Feeling colder with winds becoming light. Maximum temperature 8C.

  • Friday to Monday

Staying largely dry on Friday with bright or sunny spells and perhaps the odd shower along the coast. Feeling slightly colder with temperatures close to average, reaching a maximum of 8C. Generally dry weather throughout the weekend, often fairly cloudy with some sunny intervals though the odd shower possible on Saturday. Turning colder with frosts overnight.

Scotland

  • Thursday

Generally, a cloudy day with outbreaks of rain and the occasional bright spell in some regions. Light rain, sleet or snow over Shetland, the snow mainly confined to the higher ground. Maximum temperatures of 8C.

  • Friday to Monday

Cloudy with further rain in some parts on Friday, including Aberdeen and Orkney, but drier with brighter spells in other regions, with maximum temperatures of 7C. More rain and showers throughout the weekend, wintry conditions on hills and frost developing overnight.

A view of flooding around the River Arun in Pulborough, West Sussex. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning from 12pm on Thursday with rainfall expected to travel in a north-east direction across the south of England, lasting until 3am on Friday. Picture date: Thursday January 4, 2024.
A view of flooding around the River Arun in Pulborough, West Sussex. (Alamy)

Northern Ireland

  • Thursday

A bright day with occasional sunny spells and a scattering of showers. Best of the sunshine for Belfast and Newry, the showers more likely through Fermanagh and up to Lough Foyle. Light to moderate southwest winds. Maximum temperature 8C.

  • Friday to Monday

Plenty dry and bright weather with some sunny spells on Friday, but with occasional showers most likely in the north and close to the Irish sea coasts. Moderate northwest winds and maximum temperatures of 7C. A scattering of showers on Saturday, wintry on hills. Mainly dry on Sunday and Monday. Bright or sunny spells but frost becoming widespread at night.

Wales

  • Thursday

A largely fine day with sunny periods and just the low chance of a shower first thing. Sunshine turning hazier through the afternoon. Light winds. Temperatures close to average for January. Maximum temperature 10C.

  • Friday to Monday

Sunny spells and scattered showers, on Friday, mainly confined to western coasts. Breezy along the coasts otherwise light winds and feeling slightly colder. Maximum temperature 8C. Generally dry weather throughout the weekend, often fairly cloudy with some sunny intervals and the odd shower on Saturday.