Flood alerts are in place for London this weekend as the Thames Barrier closed after the river burst its banks due to 'astronomical' tides and heavy rain.
A total of 16 warnings have been issued for areas near the banks of the River Thames, as water levels reached almost as high as the pavements in some parts of central London, including in the Charing Cross area, with flood alerts in place from Greenwich all the way to Putney, west London.
Dramatic pictures showed the high river levels in upmarket areas of the capital, with some people having to hold on to the elevated railings to avoid being soaked.
The water was today seen overflowing in Charing Cross where the average property costs £4.7million, Kew where homes cost about £1m, in Putney where the average home is worth £693,000 and in Greenwich where the average three bedroom house costs around £1.6m.
A combination of the after effects of the recent storms and a high Spring tide is causing the localised flooding. More areas of the capital are set to be deluged in what is forecast to be a wet weekend.
A combination of the after effects of the recent storms and a high Spring tide caused localised flooding of the Thames Path near the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich catching commuters out
The River Thames burst its banks near Kew Bridge in London today. Water levels reached the outside benches of The Bell & Crown pub
The flooding comes after the Thames Barrier was closed recently for the first time this winter. Pictured is a woman walking her dog at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich
The barrier, which is operated by the Environment Agency, has 10 steel gates that can be raised into position across the River Thames. Pictured is flooding near Kew Bridge in London
The Thames Barrier, which spans 520 metres across the river near Woolwich, was shut yesterday 'to protect London from the threat of flooding due to the high level of rain combined with high tides from the sea'.
The action was taken after Storm Imogen lashed the country with heavy downpours earlier this week.
The barrier, which is operated by the Environment Agency, has 10 steel gates that can be raised into position across the River Thames. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-storey building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weighs 3,300 tonnes
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The River Thames burst its banks and overflowed onto flood plains in Greenwich, south east London, today while dramatic photographs show river levels extremely high in areas such as Embankment (pictured) due to 'astronomically' high spring tides and recent heavy rain
Water levels were almost as high as the pavement in areas across central London today, including in the Charing Cross area, with flood alerts in place from Greenwich all the way to Putney, west London this evening amid fears the river could continue to rise at high tide
Recent rain has also led to the Environment Agency issuing a flood alert and warnings around the River Thames
It is one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world, protecting 125 square km of London.
The barrier is meant to be closed under storm surge conditions to protect London from flooding from the sea, but yesterday was the first time it has been closed this winter and the 176th time in its 34-year history.
Steve East, engineering manager at the Thames Barrier, said: 'We are closing the barrier to protect London from the threat of flooding due to the high level of rain last week combined with high tides from the sea.'
The barrier has since reopened although river levels within central London remain very high.
On Twitter, a spokesman - @AlanBarrierEA - said much of the flooding had occurred on flood plains engineered for the purpose. One area included a children's playground in Ingress Park, Greenhithe, Dartford, Kent (pictured above), which was underwater earlier today
The Thames Barrier (pictured in action), which is operated by the Environment Agency, has 10 steel gates that can be raised into position across the River Thames. When raised, the gates stand as high as a five-storey building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge
Flood alerts have been issued from Greenwich to Putney amid fears tonight's high tide could see the river reach 5.6 metres high.
The river was already at a high level following recent rainfall but 'astronomical' spring tides expected tonight could see it rise even higher.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: 'Flooding of land closest to the river may be possible, no property flooding is expected.'
On Twitter, a barrier spokesman - @AlanBarrierEA - said much of the flooding had occurred on flood plains specifically engineered for the purpose. One area included a children's playground.
He wrote: 'The #ThamesBarrier is now closed, protecting #London from the threat of tidal flooding for the 176th time (sic).
'Sorry kids. Our playground is designed to flood when we close the #ThamesBarrier so no playing on the swings today.'
Emma Bilby shared a picture of the playground in Ingress Park, near the Pier pub, and joked: 'Playground's looking fun today'.
Other areas to be flooded include the banks of Gravesend, Greenhithe and near Dartford, Kent.
The barrier is meant to be closed under storm surge conditions to protect London from flooding from the sea, but yesterday was the first time it has been closed this winter and the 176th time in its 34-year history (as shown above). The barrier has since reopened today
The Thames Barrier (pictured closed yesterday) is one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world, protecting 125 sq km of London
Meanwhile renewed flood warnings have been issued for tens of thousands of homes and business in Cornwall this morning.
The Environment Agency says the flood risk area stretches from Land's End, the Lizard and Mount's Bay to Rame Head.
They say exceptionally high spring tides are likely to be driven by strong winds, sending huge waves crasahing over quays and harbour walls to swamp
seaside towns.
But they say it will not be as bad as the battering Cornwall took when Storm Imogen hit earlier this week.
A spokesman said 'Flooding is expected over the morning high tide on Friday. East south easterly winds Force 4 are forecast for the coast with waves of 1.5 metres predicted.
'Whilst wind speeds and wave heights are less than experienced earlier in the week the higher water levels mean that flooding is possible.
'Spray overtopping is possible as well as overtopping of quays in coastal locations. Please exercise great caution. Some tide locking of rivers is also possible which may lead to localised flooding.
Flood alerts have been issued from Greenwich, south east London, all the way to Putney, west London, by the Environment Agency
'We may issue further Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings over the weekend due to further high tides and forecast rain.'
It comes as forecasters warn snow could fall across parts of the UK within the next 48 hours after an arctic blast sent temperatures plummeting towards -6C today.
Forecasters said snow could fall as far south as the Cotswolds this weekend while the heaviest falls are expected to be in northern Scotland tomorrow.
Much of the country woke up to frosty scenes this morning while Benson in Oxfordshire recorded a temperature of -5.8C (21.6F) at 7am.
Over the next few days an Arctic maritime air mass will continue to push temperatures below freezing overnight in many parts of Britain.
And high areas including Dartmoor and the Welsh mountains could see a dusting of snow as a front comes in from the West this weekend.
The Met Office has a 'be aware' snow warning out for tomorrow for the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus and Perth and Kinross.
It said: 'A frontal zone in cold air will move slowly and erratically southwards across the area, generating rain near coasts but sleet and snow inland.'
And on Saturday, there is a warning for very strong winds and large waves in the South West, with 80mph gusts possible in Devon and Cornwall.
Source Daily Mail
