THE River Thames is set to flood properties in Surrey and Middlesex as its waters have risen to their highest level for nearly 30 years in places.
SUNDAY EVENING UPDATE: There are now 14 severe flood warnings along the Thames in Surrey, Middlesex, and West Berkshire as levels continue to slowly rise. In many places, the water level is the highest in at least 30 years. Severe warnings mean life and property is at risk. Widespread property flooding is likely at Egham and Staines and other stretches in the next day or two.
SATURDAY'S EARLIER REPORT:
More than half an inch of rain fell overnight in Surrey and when the swollen streams feeding the Thames discharge this extra rainfall, it will burst its banks in more places over the next few days, the Environment Agency warn today.
At Walton on Thames, the river's highest level since at least 1990 was measured this morning at 7am. The depth was 4.09m. The previous highest was 4.04m.
The highest level since 1985 was also recorded this morning at Penton Hook, west of Laleham.
At Sunbury, the Environment Agency said that some property flooding is already occurring.
"Some flooding to property closest to the river is already occurring. Levels will continue to rise and further extensive property flooding is to be expected," said the Agency. "The current river forecast suggests that by the middle of next week the river in this area could reach a similar level to January 2003."
The level at Sunbury Lock this morning at seven o'clock was 0.65m, only a few centimetres short of the highest level previously recorded at the locality since detailed records began in 1985.
At Shepperton Lock, there was a similar picture with the river level just 9cms short of the highest previously recorded in the area since observations were first kept in January 1985.
At Chertsey Lock, the Thames this morning was 1.11m. This figure beats the highest figure of 1.08m measured in the past 29 years.
The Environment Agency said on Friday afternoon that the Thames at Kingston and Surbiton is high and rising slowly. "River levels are expected to continue to rise slowly over the next few days in response to recent and further forecast rainfall. Flooding of properties located closest to the river is expected. The current river forecast suggests that river levels in this area could reach a higher level than those seen in January 2003."
In Egham and Staines, flooding of properties can be expected at any time over the next few days.
The Environment Agency said on Friday: "The River Thames in the Staines and Egham area has risen in response to the recent rainfall and is forecast to continue to rise until the beginning of next week. Property flooding is to be expected from today onwards. The current river forecast suggests that river levels in this area could reach a similar or higher level than those seen in January 2003."
All sections of the Thames in Surrey and Middlesex are on a Flood Warning, the second highest alert issued by the Enviroment Agency.
Regarding Walton on Thames, the Agency said: "The River Thames in the Walton area has risen in response to rainfall earlier in the week and is forecast to continue to rise until the beginning of next week. Further flooding of properties located closest to the river is expected."
There was a similar situation at Thames Ditton, with low-lying properties on Thames Ditton Island likely to flood as water levels reach their highest level for several years.
In East Molesey and West Molesey, there is also a risk to Thames-side homes and businesses.
"Property flooding is possible over the coming days. The current river forecast suggests that river levels in this area could reach a similar or higher level than those seen in January 2003," said the Agency, referring to the Moleseys.
The River Mole levels are rising, but have not reached a level yet where there is any flooding danger but once the overnight rain reaches the river, this could change.
The Surrey Weather Book author and meteorology expert Ian Currie, of Rickman Hill, Coulsdon, was last night expecting to announce that the county had just had its wettest winter ever recorded, beating the famous wet and muddy winter of 1914-15 when so many soldiers perished in the battlefield quagmires in the First World War. He has already measured the wettest January ever recorded and can find none wetter going back at least 150 years.
"If there is another 3mms of rain today, the record will be broken," said Mr Currie, who is editor of the Weather Eye magazine. "The record is bound to be broken with all the showers that are coming."
The Met Office predicts some further showers and gales today and more stormy weather on Tuesday which is likely to further push up the levels of the Thames later in the week.
*The A308 Windsor Road in Runnymede is closed in both directions between Runnymede Roundabout and the A328 Priest Hill junction, because of flooding.
*The B375 Chertsey Bridge Road in Chertsey is closed in both directions between the B387 Weir Road junction and the Littleton Lane junction, because of flooding
* Plough Lane in Cobham is blocked between the Ockham Lane junction and the Downside Road junction, because of flooding.
* The A22 in Whyteleafe between the Wapses Lodge roundabout and Purley is still closed because of an underground water course - or bourne - which has risen to ground level and flooded homes, and put the Kenley Water Pumping Station at risk of being closed down.
* A burst water main and flooding closed Whitepost Hill in Redhill last night (Friday).
