Large parts of South West warned to brace itself for flooding and road closures

A series of flood warnings have been issued across the South West after several days of heavy rain.

The Environment Agency has issued five warnings and 18 alerts across the  South West.

And with more wet weather on the way there are concerns the situation could get worse over the coming days.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the next 12 hours  and forecasters expect heavy rainfall to disrupt the region.

Forecasters predict that flooding is possible in some areas as a result of the downpours, adding drivers may be affected by poor conditions including surface spray on roads. Journeys on public transport, including trains, may also take longer as a result of the bad weather.

Officials said river levels were rising as a result of the rain and added people should “take care” in affected areas.

Met Office climate scientist Professor Peter Stott said Devon’s vulnerability to flooding from sea storm surges and river levels rising was becoming a “real issue”.

“Particularly communities around the coast, they’re vulnerable to both types of flooding from the sea, and also from inland, and that I think is the issue,” he said.

He added: “There’s obviously crumbling of cliffs and so on, and the people who are very directly living there are very directly affected.

“But I think it is not so much the fact the land is getting a huge amount smaller, rather than the coast communities near the sea are vulnerable from surges coming from the sea level rise, as well as flooding from the rivers which are coming from the sea as well.”

Flood warnings

Devon:

River Harbourne at Crowdy Mill, Beenleigh, Bow and Tuckenhay

Rivery Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster

River Avon from Didworthy to Aveton Gifford

Cornwall:

River Cober at Trenear

River Hayle from Relubbus to St Erth

Flood alerts

Devon:

Exmoor Rivers near South and North Molton

Middle Exe area near Tiverton

Rivers Clyst and Culm and their tributaries near Cullompton and Exeter

Rivers Otter and Sid, and Exmouth area

South Devon Rivers near Kingsbridge and Ivybridge

River Yealm near Sherford

River Plym and Tory Brook near Plymouth

Middle River Tamar near Lifton

River Axe near Axminster

Lower Torridge area near Great Torrington

Barnstaple, Braunton, Ilfracombe and Combe Martin area

Lower Exe area near Exeter

River Dart area near Buckfastleigh

Cornwall:

Upper River Tamar near North Tamerton

River Lynher near Liskeard

North Cornwall Rivers near Wadebridge

West Cornwall Rivers near Hayle

River Cober near Helston