Flood warnings remain in place across Kent
09:00, 23 December 2019
updated: 09:12, 23 December 2019
Flood warnings remain in place across Kent this morning following persistent heavy rainfall.
The Environment Agency said river levels had been due to peak yesterday but were expected to remain high on Monday, with a widespread risk of flooding.
Their flood warnings web page, shows red flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected and immediate action required - for stretches of the Medway from East Peckham through to Nettlestead, Yalding, Wateringbury and Maidstone; and incident response staff are operating defences and structures, including the Leigh flood storage area near Tonbridge.
There were also warnings for the River Beult and Teise at Yalding and at Collier Street, and on the River Stour south of Ashford, and at Grove Ferry near Minster.
The latest update for Yalding, issued at 8.45am, said: "River levels in and around Yalding remain high, but are falling slowly. River levels in the River Medway upstream of Yalding will remain steady through Monday December 23 due to our operation of the Leigh Flood Storage Area. River levels in the Rivers Beult and Teise are falling. Flood conditions in Yalding will improve through Monday as river levels fall. The weather forecast is for a drier spell, and river levels should continue to fall for the next few days."
Just before 9am warnings on parts of the Medway and Beult were scaled down but large swathes of the county remain affected.
Between Yalding and Maidstone they say river levels have peaked and started to fall, but added: "Due to the amount of water in the upstream catchment river levels will fall quite slowly and flood conditions are likely for much of Monday, especially in communities upstream of Maidstone. The weather forecast is for a drier spell, and river levels should continue to fall for the next few days."
Yellow flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible and residents should be prepared - are in place at several other areas including the Rover Rother and its tributaries from Turks Bridge to the Royal Military Canal, and on the River Darent from Westerham to Dartford.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and avoid flooded land or driving through flooded roads.
