Thousands prepare to evacuate homes over monsoon flood risk... and summer festivals are a washout too
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 11:54 AM on 10th July 2008
More heavy rain is set to batter Britain today as thousands prepared to evacuate their homes after the unusual monsoon weather left a trail of flood warnings.
The deluge yesterday - which saw parts of the country receiving a month’s rainfall in 24 hours - caused a wave of chaos.
The relentless showers caused a string of train delays, smashed sea walls and even turned the annual Buckingham Palace garden party into an ocean of umbrellas.
But despite a brief respite from the misery - with a spot of sunshine for many parts - the downpours, caused by a European monsoon, are set to continue.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England are expected to bear the brunt of today’s torrent although showers are expected across much of the UK.
The Environment Agency today had 12 flood warnings and 38 flood watches in place.
A flood watch occurs when it is considered probable there will be minor flooding of land and roads, and a flood warning when it is possible that houses and buildings will be at risk.
The flood warnings are all in south-west England with flood watches covering south Wales and parts of the River Thames.
And with rain set to continue for most of the weekend and showers forecast for next week, festival-goers were being warned to pack their Wellingtons.
In Sussex, 150,000 people at Goodwood's Festival of Speed face three days of downpours when the celebration of motor racing begins tomorrow.
And fans of Scottish rockers The Fratellis are also likely to be swamped by showers when the annual programme of concerts at Somerset House in London begins tonight.
Most areas of southern and central England and Wales should be much drier today than yesterday, with a mixture of sunshine and showers.
But Tony Conlan, a forecaster from MeteoGroup, suggested that those further north could suffer.
He said: ‘There may be heavy showers but it is going to be more localised. There may well be localised flooding.’
Yesterday, the South West was the hardest hit region with 2.8 inches of rain falling - a month’s worth in one day.
Southern and central England and Wales, with rainfall up to 1.6 inches.
The downpours caused problems on the roads, with motoring organisation the AA recording 28 per cent more breakdowns than normal today, mostly weather-related.
Call-outs are expected to top 12,000 for the day, compared with the usual 9,500.
But despite the lack of sunshine, yesterday’s event at Buckingham Palace everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Everyone, that is, except for the Prince of Wales, who grimaced at the grey skies above with a look that said all that needed to be said.
The fact that his mother held a garden party at the Palace the day before and enjoyed perfect, unspoilt sunshine may have had something to do with it, of course.
‘He said "sorry about the weather",’ said one guest, Carol Heading, 62.
'Why he has to apologise for it, I can’t imagine.’
She was one of hundreds of Red Cross volunteers at the event, which marked the centenary of the British Red Cross’s Royal Charter.
Hours later the rain was no respecter of persons, however distinguished, at Sir David Frost’s summer party.
Once again brollies were out, David Cameron struggling with a rather large one, Alan Whicker losing a battle with the wind with his.
Some guests decided to throw style to the wind and wear plastic macs, but cutting a sartorial dash has never been Michael Winner’s strong suit.
Spray: Wet driving conditions yesterday led to 28% more breakdowns
