SURREY has escaped the worst of the predicted "tropical" rainstorms which threatened to bring widespread flooding across the county.
But it is not time for residents to drop their guard. The Met Office has two severe weather warnings for wind and heavy rain covering tonight (Friday, February 7) and tomorrow (Saturday, February 8). And with Surrey saturated after record-breaking winter rainfall, more flooding can be expected in vulnerable locations.
As much as 35mm of rain had been predicted by the Met Office for the eastern half of Surrey last night and yesterday afternoon. But in the event, less than half this amount fell. Reigate Grammar School recorded 12mm up to midnight and just 2mm overnight. But with rivers at present extremely sensitive to heavy rainfall, levels in the River Mole have risen, but not as much as had been feared.
The Environment Agency had put the river on an amber flood warning yesterday, in anticipation of the torrential rain, and had said that levels would peak later this morning and early this afternoon in Mole Valley and at Sidlow, threatening properties.
The Burstow Stream was also put on amber alert, and had been expected to cause widespread flooding of low-lying land.
Although parts of Surrey escaped the worst of the rain, 27mm was measured in the 24 hours up to 9pm at Wiggonholt, between Horsham and Pulborough, illustrating how Sussex fared badly from the downpours. Much of the intense rain sheared off as it approached Surrey from the south-west yesterday and plagued Croydon, East Sussex and Kent instead.
Homes, gardens and basements have been flooded along the A22 at Whyteleafe, near Caterham. The road has been closed between Whyteleafe and Kenley and some families have evacuated themselves as floodwater bubbles up through floorboards. Power cuts also hit properties along the road last night (Thursday).
The Met Office said winds will pick up to gale force in the early hours of tomorrow (Saturday) with driving rain. It will be very windy on Saturday with heavy, squally showers. Sunday will also be windy with some more showers. Further depressions will steam in next week so there is no end in sight to what is turning out to be the wettest winter ever recorded.
*Ian Currie's long range forecast for the rest of 2014:
www.surreymirror.co.uk/Weatherman-predicts-immense-floods-Surrey/story-20572778-detail/story.html
