Last Month Wettest Ever Recorded For UK; Now Another Major Storm Moving East From Wales
Last month was the wettest February ever recorded in the United Kingdom, and more rain is expected over the next week, warns the country’s Met Office. Torrential rainfall flooded hundreds of homes, and many residents are frustrated at the government’s lack of response. Averaged across the country, more than 202 millimeters (8 inches) of rain fell last month, exceeding the previous February record of 193.4 millimeters (7.6 inches). The outburst is largely linked to a string of severe windstorms over the past month, starting with Storm Ciara in early February, then Storm Dennis a few weeks later. Now Storm Jorge is bringing a third round of rains to the swamped nation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s response to the flooding has drawn criticism, with members of the opposing Labour party calling it a “disgrace” that Johnson is not visiting flood-hit communities. Johnson also faced disapproval over his response to flooding in northern England last year.
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Over the past week, conditions became so intense along the River Severn that emergency evacuations took place in the towns of Ironbridge, Shropshire, and Worcestershire. Crews are rushing to repair flood defenses in those towns, as well as others, before Storm Jorge brings another round of heavy rainfall.
In Wales, the effects of Storm Jorge are already being felt, leaving residents terrified. Some are moving into evacuation centers, while others, like Florence Heritage, are opting to stay home for the time being. “We stayed here last night,” Florence Heritage, a 28-year-old resident of Pontypridd, Wales, told The Guardian. “I’m pregnant and I’ve got a four-year-old. I was in a massive panic. The whole town was in a massive panic. We were literally a foot away from the river bursting its banks again.”
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https://www.circleofblue.org/2020/hotspots/hotspots-h2o-government-response-criticized-as-third-storm-deluges-the-united-kingdom/
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