Man rescued from van and 14 people evacuated as flooding hits …
Flooding in Tokyngton Avenue in Wembley on Wednesday (LFB/Twitter)
A man has been rescued from a van and 14 people evacuated to safety as heavy downpours sparked major flooding in London[1] on Wednesday evening.
Around 40 firefighters were called the scene in Wembley[2], where an area of around one square mile was left beneath flood water as deep as one metre.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the area surrounding the River Thames, warning an exceptionally high tide in the early hours of Thursday means further flooding is likely.
Photos taken in Wembley on Wednesday evening showed roads submerged, and parked cars stuck in around 10 inches of flood water.
The square-mile affected was in the area from Tokyngton Avenue to Stonebridge Road and Harrow Road.
Brent Council said “a number of households” in Tokyngton Avenue were flooded after “extremely heavy rainfall...overwhelmed the existing flood preventive measures in place”.
One man was trapped inside a van near Stonebridge Station by the floods and had to be rescued by London Fire Brigade, while 14 other people were taken to safety.
Point Place, Tokyngton Avenue, and Argenta Way were closed on Wednesday evening, while LFB urged people to “please avoid the area and don’t drive through flood water”.
Firefighters in six fire engines were scrambled to scene shortly after 3.30pm and spent more than six hours working to divert the water, not leaving until shortly before 10pm.
Londoners were warned to brace for thunderstorms throughout Wednesday[3], with the Met Office[4] forecasting downpours for much of the capital until around 7pm.
The Met Office issued a yellow severe weather[5] alert for a large part of England and Wales, and said “heavy” downpours could see up to 20-25mm of rain fall within an hour.
More flooding has been forecast for the capital, as the Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Thames riverside, from the Thames Barrier to Putney Bridge.
This afternoon’s extremely heavy rainfall has overwhelmed the existing flood preventive measures in place and unfortunately a number of households on Tokyngton Avenue have been flooded.
The Fire Brigade are currently on site with council officers and a team from the @EnvAgency[6].
— Brent Council (@Brent_Council) August 2, 2023[7]
It warned flooding could hit in the early hours of Thursday, when river levels are expected to be high as a result of spring tides.
High tide is due at London Bridge at 3.30am on Thursday.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Flooding of low-lying roads and footpaths is expected, which may exist for one to two hours either side of high tide. Flooding of properties is not expected.
“We believe there is a possibility of flooding for Custom House (EC3R), Narrow Street (E14), Mayflower and Angel pubs (SE16), Royal Naval College riverfront, the Almshouse Slipway at Crane Street (SE10), Bankside by the Tate Modern (SE1), and Three Mill Island (E3).
“We are closely monitoring the situation.”
Meanwhile Met Office forecasters also said an “unseasonably deep area of low pressure” would bring heavy winds across the whole southern coast of England on Wednesday, with gales of up to 60mph.
Londoners were being warned there was a “good chance” car and bus journeys would take longer because of standing water or hail, and that delays to rail services were “possible”.
The yellow thunderstorm warning was due to be in place until 8pm on Wednesday.
LFB has issued advice[8] on how to prepare for and deal with flooding.
A spokesperson said: “Recent heavy rain has shown how quickly a flash flood can inundate a street. Our firefighters know what they need to do in a flood, but it’s important Londoners know as well. We’d encourage you to follow our flooding advice.”
References
- ^ London (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Wembley (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Londoners were warned to brace for thunderstorms throughout Wednesday (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ @EnvAgency (twitter.com)
- ^ August 2, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ has issued advice (www.london-fire.gov.uk)