“Very wet”: Somerset Levels and Moors briefing 5 January 2024
This is a briefing prepared on Friday 5 January by local Environment Agency officers.
In summary, river levels are rising and the Somerset moors are very wet.
Currently river levels are too high to allow pumping. The Environment Agency will begin pumping as soon as there is enough room in the main river channels to receive the flood water
The weekend is forecast to be generally dry, with clearer weather in the long-term forecast. But there is now a lot of water in river networks, which will take time to work its way through catchments.
Pictured at the top of this page: a view the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The Environment Agency is a partner in Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), along with Somerset Council, the Parrett and Axe Brue Internal Drainage Boards, Natural England, the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Wessex Water.
Current situation
Throughout the Christmas period, unsettled weather has continued across Somerset. All our river catchments are saturated and responding quickly to further rainfall. Following Storm Henk and further heavy rainfall since the new year, we are seeing river levels rising and the Somerset moors are very wet.
We [= the Environment Agency] have staff on duty 24/7 monitoring the forecast and river levels, which allows us to optimise our operations to minimise risk to people and property across the Levels and Moors. Ahead of the Christmas period, additional temporary pumps were put in place. However, pumping can only take place when river levels are low enough to receive the pumped flood water. Currently river levels are too high to allow pumping.
The weekend is forecast to be generally dry with clearer weather in the long-term forecast.
However, there is now a lot of water in the river networks, which will take time to work its way through the catchment.
You can find out the status of roads that have Emergency road closure gates. We are working closely with Somerset Council monitoring water levels that could affect the A361.
Our field teams are busy responding to reports of flooding and ensuring that assets are operating as expected.
There are currently 15 Flood Warnings and 14 Flood Alerts in place for Somerset. We will continue to issue Flood Warnings and Alerts as appropriate. For the most up to date information please
check: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/alerts-and-warnings
Axe / Brue Catchment
River levels remain high in the Brue catchment. There are active flood warnings in the area for the River Sheppey, River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge and River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge, low lying properties. Our teams are out checking screens and assets, and we continue to be vigilant to ensure our operations are as effective as possible in reducing flood risk to people and property.
Parrett / Tone Catchment – Upstream of Langport
Many of the moors are very wet as is normal in the winter. There is capacity in many of the moors around Langport to receive water as it makes its way through the system. We will operate pumps as soon as there is enough room in the main channels to receive the flood water.
Parrett / Tone Catchment – Downstream of Langport
There is currently an active flood warning in place for Curry Moor and Hay Moor. Currymoor is full and Athelney Spillway is running. Northmoor and Saltmoor currently have capacity. We are closely monitoring the situation and will issue further flood warnings as appropriate. We will operate pumps are soon as there is enough room in the main channels to receive the flood water.
Outlook
The forecast for Friday is mostly dry with possible light showers. The weekend and into next week is forecast to be generally dry.
What happens next?
We will continue to keep residents and our partners informed.
Somerset Rivers Authority Flood Action Plan review
Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is a partnership of Flood Risk Management organisations in Somerset. The SRA is currently reviewing its Flood Action Plan and seeking views from members of the public by Sunday 14 January about how to reduce the risks and impacts of flooding across Somerset over the next ten years. See https://srastrategy.co.uk to contribute your views and share your flood concerns on a map.
The SRA is also holding two online events next week:
- Monday 8 January 2024 at 7pm – Have your say on Somerset Rivers Authority’s Strategy and Flood Action Plan Tickets, Mon 8 Jan 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
- Tuesday 9 January 2024 at 4pm – Have your say on Somerset Rivers Authority’s Strategy and Flood Action Plan Tickets, Tue 9 Jan 2024 at 16:00 | Eventbrite
Book today to have your say.
Flooding advice and information
Our advice to the public is to stay safe and not enter floodwater – just 30 cm of fast flowing water can move a car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.
Call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for updates on flooding, to sign up for flood warnings, or to report flooding.
Go to gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding or search ‘know my flood risk’ to sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings, receive information on the risk in your area and what to do in a flood.
Sign up for flood warnings at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
Visit the Environment Agency website gov.uk/environment-agency which contains information on current river levels and flooding
Follow us on social media: facebook.com/environmentagencywessex
Or visit: www.somersetriversauthority.org.uk
What to do during a flood
Stay up-to-date on weather information and warnings: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/plan-ahead-for-flooding
Report current flooding to the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 (main rivers or sea), Somerset Council 0300 123 2224 (ordinary watercourses) or Wessex Water (sewers) 0345 600 4600
Get information on what to do during a flood from:
http://www.somersetprepared.org.uk/hazard-advice/flooding
www.somersetriversauthority.org.uk/useful-info
Call 999 if there is a risk to life.
Remember: Always stay safe. In an immediate flood emergency or where there is a risk to life, follow the advice of the emergency services.
Recovery from Flooding
For information on recovering from flooding, see
How to recover from flooding – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Or https://floodmary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/homeowners-guide-to-flood-recovery.pdf
Somerset Council may be able to support with housing and welfare issues https://www.somerset.gov.uk/beaches-ports-and-flooding/flooding-information-and-advice/
Submit a detailed property flooding report at https://swim.geowessex.com/somerset
Flooding is very distressing, and it is common for people’s emotional health to be impacted. Somerset Talking Therapies may be able to offer help: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/somerset-talking-therapies/
For all enquiries, or if you would like to be added to the distribution list for Somerset Levels and Moors updates, please email WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk