A rainbow appears over flooded fields in the Wye Valley, near the hamlet of Wellesley, in Hereford, England following Storm Dennis on 17 February 2020. Storm Dennis is the second named storm to bring extreme weather in a week, following Storm Ciara. Photo: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
A rainbow appears over flooded fields in the Wye Valley, near the hamlet of Wellesley, in Hereford, England following Storm Dennis on 17 February 2020. Storm Dennis is the second named storm to bring extreme weather in a week, following Storm Ciara. Photo: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

26 February 2020 (Sky News) – An “immediate evacuation” has been ordered in a town in Shropshire after rising water levels from the River Severn breached flood barriers.

West Mercia Police said it is “currently carrying out an immediate evacuation in Ironbridge due to the temporary barriers becoming overwhelmed”.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding said the evacuation affected premises on the Wharfage in Ironbridge because water from the River Severn was breaching flood barriers “and in areas it appears it is buckling”.

An aerial view shows the extent of flooding in Bewdley in Worcestershire, England on 26 February 2020. Photo: Imagebridge
An aerial view shows the extent of flooding in Bewdley in Worcestershire, England on 26 February 2020. Photo: Imagebridge

Councillor Shaun Davies, leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, said the flood barriers were “shunting backwards quite significantly”.

He warned: “Please do not come to Ironbridge. The situation is developing.”

It comes after temporary flood defences in Bewdley in Worcestershire were breached on Tuesday night – with homes being evacuated over fears that the River Severn will not reach its peak until tonight.

The Environment Agency said the river at Bewdley is expected to reach between 5.4m and 5.6m, potentially surpassing the highest recorded level of 5.56m that was seen in November 2000. […]

The Boat Inn in Jackfield near Ironbridge, Shropshire, England is flooded on 26 February 2020. Photo: PA
The Boat Inn in Jackfield near Ironbridge, Shropshire, England is flooded on 26 February 2020. Photo: PA

Sky News correspondent Dan Whitehead, who is in Bewdley, said he had seen a sofa and fridge freezer float past him and there was an “immensely strong smell of diesel” from generators overwhelmed by flood water.

“This flood water is going to go up by 15cm or so throughout the day,” he added.

Further showers are expected between now and Friday, and ongoing flooding is also forecast for the next few days. […]

Temporary flood barriers in Ironbridge in Shropshire, England were breached on the night of 25 February 2020. Photo: ClrrShaunDavies / Sky News
Temporary flood barriers in Ironbridge in Shropshire, England were breached on the night of 25 February 2020. Photo: ClrrShaunDavies / Sky News

Caroline Douglass, director of incident management at the Environment Agency, said: “We are in our fourth week of exceptional river levels and stormy weather.

“With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this.

“People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through floodwater.”

England has seen more than twice its average February rainfall, and some areas have experienced a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours. [more]

‘Immediate evacuation’ ordered in town as flood barriers ‘overwhelmed’