Storm Dennis: One dead and four major incidents declared amid severe flooding

Follow the day’s developments as they happened

Sheep is freed from brambles after taking shelter in Wales during Storm Dennis

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for Wales as Storm Dennis unleashed torrential rain over the UK.

One man died after being pulled from the River Tawe near Swansea but police said it was not related to the weather.

The Environment Agency said that a record number of flood alerts were in force on Sunday, including severe warnings for the River Teme in mid Wales.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

Key Points

• Rare red weather warning in place for south Wales
• Environment Agency issues more flood alerts and warnings 'than any other day on record'
• Major incidents declared in South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire
• Environment Agency warns flooding 'to continue'

[16 February 2020 08:38 · Tom Barnes]

Good morning and welcome to the Independent's live blog on Storm Dennis.

[16 February 2020 08:43 · Tom Barnes]

The Met Office has issued its most severe weather warning in Wales as prolonged heavy rain is expected to lead to severe flooding.

The red weather warning was put in place at 6.10am and will last until 11am on Sunday. Forecasters expect parts of south Wales to be affected the most by flood risk.

"Prolonged heavy rain will continue until mid-morning, easing slowly into the middle of the day," said the Met Office's alert. "This rain will bring event totals to between 100 and 140 mm over higher ground in south Wales."

Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: "It's quite an extreme move but we have seen widespread falls across the whole region.

"South Wales will see a lot of rain fall before Dennis moves north later to Scotland and Northern Ireland."

[16 February 2020 08:58 · Tom Barnes]

Several train operators are advising customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary amid the storm.

Great Northern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Southern Railways are warning of major disruptions due to severe weather.

Fallen trees over railway lines are also causing disruption and Network Rails staff are "en route to all locations, with a view to removal as soon as possible".

[16 February 2020 09:20 · Tom Barnes]

The River Taff in Wales burst its banks in the early hours of Sunday and has flooded parts of Pontypridd town centre.

Natural Resources Wales said: "Two severe flood warnings have now been issued for the River Taff at Pontypridd and the River Neath at Aberdulais. The number of flood warnings has risen to 76, alongside 61 flood alerts.

"Unless your journey is essential please consider staying home this morning. Do not walk or drive through flood water - six inches of fast flowing water is enough to knock you over and two feet of water can float a car."

South Wales is expecting to bear the worst of Storm Dennis on Sunday, as the Met Office issued a rare red warning for heavy rain and flood risk.

In one 24-hour period, Tredegar in southeast Wales was hit by 105 mm of rain, while coastal Welsh village of Aberdaron was blasted by hurricane-force winds up to 91 mph.

[16 February 2020 09:32 · Tom Barnes]

An Etihad pilot is receiving praise on social media after landing a plane amid strong crosswinds at London Heathrow on Saturday.

The footage, first shared on Instagram by aviation channel Speedbird TV, shows the plane struggling against the wind to land on the tarmac.

The aircraft appears to hover just above the ground for a while before the pilot finally manages to carefully land it sideways and slowly move down the runway.

One person said: "Fantastic flying skills on display, full credit must go to the pilots!"

Another said: "Imagine sitting in the right hand side window seat and getting a look at the centre line when coming into land! Awesome piloting skills."

[16 February 2020 09:40 · Tom Barnes]

A search for a schoolboy who went missing in Dundee on Saturday night has been launched.

Police are concerned that Jacob Newton, 11, was "not dressed appropriately" to spend the night outside with Storm Dennis battering Scotland.

Newton was last seen in the Ann Street area of the city at 9.30pm and was wearing a navy Stone Island Jacket, black jogging bottoms and black and grey Nike Air Max trainers.

He is described as being 5 ft with short, dark hair cropped at the sides.

Police Scotland's Inspector Mahboob Ahmad said: "We are very concerned for Jacob's safety and wellbeing - as are Jacob's family and friends, understandably.

"He is an 11-year-old boy and has not been seen since 9.30pm last night. The weather conditions are very poor and he is not dressed appropriately.

"I would urge anyone who has information on Jacob's whereabouts to contact Police Scotland immediately.

"If Jacob is reading this message, I would ask him to please contact his family, friends or the police and let us know that he is safe and well."

Anyone with information about Jacob's location is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 4392 of February 15.

[16 February 2020 10:09 · Tom Barnes]

Emergency services throughout the country are advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary and reminding people not to drive into deep water.

Numerous roads have been closed after being flooded or blocked by collapsed trees caused by Storm Dennis.

Surrey's Roads Policing Unit said: "Units being deployed to people who have driven into deep water and got stuck.

"The wet stuff's been falling all night means there is probably some flooding, please use common sense and don't drive into water where you're unsure of the depth."

The Met Office warned communities could be completely cut off by floodwater "perhaps for several days".

[16 February 2020 10:26 · Tom Barnes]

Hundreds of residents in severely flooded areas in Wales have been evacuated by emergency services.

Cars and streets have been plunged underwater, whilst some residents have been forced to move to the upper levels of their homes as severe flooding inundates their towns.

Gwent Police advised residents in Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, to evacuate their homes and identified the Abergavenny Leisure Centre as a "place of safety".

A member of the public is rescued after flooding in Nantgarw, Wales (PA)

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[16 February 2020 11:04 · Tom Barnes]

A Met Office forecaster told the Independent the worst of heavy rainfall has passed but the wet weather isn't about to let up.

John Griffiths, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "We're still seeing some rain over the south of Wales. It's not as heavy as it was earlier but there could still be about 10 to 20 mm of rain falling on top of what we already have.

"There will be a mixture of rain and hail coming as well as some dry spells, but they won't really be much help."

A yellow wind warning that already covered most of the country has been extended even further south to cover parts of south-west England and north into Shetland.

Strong wind speeds between 40 to 50 mph will be blowing through inland areas, said Mr Griffiths, while western coasts and isles will see even stronger gusts of up to 70 mph locally.

The low pressure centre of Storm Dennis will be passing into the Norwegian Sea through the early hours of Monday morning, but there is still unsettled weather waiting in the wings.

Mr Griffiths said: "Monday morning will bring blustery showers across the southwest of England until around midday and there will still be gusts of up to 45 mph at times for parts of northern England.

"Showers will become more widespread on Tuesday as they reach eastern parts in the afternoon, with some hail and thunder across the west and more wintry weather over hill in the north of Scotland.

"There is also the potential for more weather warnings to be put in place for parts of northern England later in the week due to rainfall," he added.

"It won't be as heavy as last week or this week, but considering how much rain has already fallen, the impact of more could be significant."

[16 February 2020 11:20 · Tom Barnes]

Trees have been uprooted, felled, or "snapped in half" as a result of Storm Dennis all over the UK.

Residents and authorities have posted photos of the fallen trees as high winds continue ripping through the country.

A huge tree fell on the A379 between Starcross and Exminster, prompting a warning from Inspector Si Jenkinson of the Alliance Roads Policing Team to avoid driving during Storm Dennis.

Tree surgeons in Hull, known as The Tree Fellas, said: "A busy night for The Tree Fellas with storm Dennis causing havoc in Hull and East Yorkshire back out this morning to deal with some large conifer trees with extensive stem splits leaning towards the customers property."

In Sevenoaks, a tree has fallen down on the junction between Granville Road and Gordon Road, said police.

Elsewhere in the country, trees have fallen onto sheds, properties, and power lines.