Storm Bert is expected to cause further disruption on Monday after torrential downpours caused “devastating” flooding over the weekend and a major incident in Wales.
The last of the Met Office’s rain warnings ended at 11.59pm on Sunday but strong winds persist and rain from high ground will reach rivers, which could disrupt travel and clean-up efforts.
Hundreds of homes were flooded, with roads turned into rivers and winds of up to 82mph recorded across parts of the UK. At least five deaths have been reported in England and Wales since the storm hit.
More than 200 flood alerts remain in place for England and Wales and travel issues are set to continue into the new week. Thousands of homes have been left without power and flights and train services have been delayed and cancelled because of the weather.
South Wales is counting the cost of the storm after a major incident was declared in the Rhondda Cynon Taf region on Sunday amid fears of a more significant impact than during Storm Dennis in 2020.
Keir Starmer thanked emergency services in a post on X and said he had spoken to the Welsh first minister, Eluned Morgan. “My thoughts are with those impacted,” the prime minister said on Sunday.
Morgan said it had been a “really difficult weekend” and that the flooding was “absolutely devastating” for those involved. “It’s been a really difficult weekend and I’d like to thank the emergency services for all the support they’re giving to the people affected,” she said.
“I think this is the second time that many of those have suffered as a result of the storm. There’s been huge investments since the last storm hit, so we’ve managed to protect lots more properties than last time. But obviously this is absolutely devastating, just before Christmas for those people who have been impacted.”
Storm Bert has brought 80% of November’s rainfall. As much as 64.4mm (2.53in) of rain fell in Capel Curig, north Wales, in 12 hours on Saturday and wind gusts of up to 82mph (132km/h) were recorded in the village.
Southern, which runs rail services across the south-east of England, said some services on Monday would be cancelled or revised because of forecast severe weather, including on its London network and the West Coastway between Havant and Southampton.
Rail passengers have been urged not to travel between Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Stansted airport after multiple fallen trees damaged the electrical overhead wires.
Services across other rail companies could start later than normal as tracks which were flooded or hit by fallen trees are inspected.
In Northampton, London Northwestern Railway reports that no rail services will operate to and from Northampton station.
Thameslink reported a points failure between Herne Hill and Tulse Hill with all lines in this area disrupted with delays and possible diversions or route alterations possible on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, a body was found in a search for 75-year-old Brian Perry after he went missing in the River Conwy, north Wales a day earlier.
Meanwhile, a man in his 60s died after a tree fell on a car on the A34 near Winchester, Hampshire police said.
A man in his 80s died in hospital after he was rescued from a car that had driven into a ford on Saturday afternoon. A woman in her 80s was also rescued from the car and taken to hospital. Her condition is not life-threatening, the force said.
Two other fatal collisions happened while the storm took hold in England.
West Yorkshire police said a 34-year-old man died in a single-vehicle collision in the early hours of Saturday. It was unclear if the incident was related to Storm Bert but it is understood the road was not icy.
In Northamptonshire, a man in his 40s died in a crash on the A45 near Flore. It was not clear whether the incident was linked to the storm.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council leader Andrew Morgan said he was “amazed” that only a yellow weather warning had been issued by the Met Office.
“On Saturday we were preparing for the possibility of an amber warning,” he said on Sunday. “It didn’t come but we took the decision ourselves to step up our resources and have depots open and crews in.
“I am surprised there wasn’t a red warning issued. During Storm Dennis we saw an amber warning in advance and a red warning issued in the early hours. I do think that will need to be reviewed shortly.”
The Met Office forecast that rain in the south-east of England will clear on Monday but blustery showers could stick around for the north-west.
About 350,000 homes in England lost power during the storm, though most have since been reconnected.
More than 300 flights set to depart from UK airports were cancelled during Storm Bert, aviation analytics firm Cirium said. Heathrow Airport was worst affected, with crosswinds of up to 40mph causing disruption to departures and arrivals on Sunday.