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Kent weather: Met Office issues yellow weather warning for rain

Flooding, interruption to power supplies and possible travel disruption could hit Kent according to the Met Office.

A yellow weather warning for heavy rainfall will come into force at 4pm today and is due to last until 3am tomorrow.

A yellow warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office. Stock picture
A yellow warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office. Stock picture

The Met Office said: "Bus and train services will probably be affected, with journey times taking longer, spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer, and some interruption to power supplies and other services is likely."

It said that the flooding of a few homes and businesses was also likely.

The weather experts added: "Rain will last for around six hours in any location, finally clearing southeast England during the early hours of Thursday.

"Rain may be accompanied by coastal gales and, in a few places, thunder.

"15 to 25mm of rain is widely expected with 30 to 50mm possible in a few places."

Network Rail has warned customers about disruption to services.

It said: "We're sorry to say that disruption is expected tonight and tomorrow morning across parts of South London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex, affecting

Southeastern, Southern, and Thameslink services. Predicted rainfall means we are having to put a 40mph speed limit on some routes.

"Vulnerable earthworks on certain lines are already saturated after last night's heavy rain, and with this storm on the way – and a yellow weather warning – we have to protect trains from the prospect of landslips or washouts."

It added that this kind of washout could occur when heavy rain falls on saturated soil and that it could not run the risk of trains "ploughing into the debris at full speed".

Roads are expected to flood. Stock picture
Roads are expected to flood. Stock picture

The firm said it was therefore taking a "careful approach" and only putting the limits in place on routes where earthworks were at risk.

In Kent, these are: Sevenoaks to Hastings; Redhill to Tonbridge; Swanley to Ashford; and the Medway Valley line. The speed restriction will start at 7pm and will run through until 7am tomorrow.

A flood alert has also been issued by the Environment Agency for parts of the Weald today.

Roads and low lying land are expected to be flooded between 12pm and 6pm around Forest Row, Ashurst, Hartfield and Penshurst.

Water could also hit areas close to rivers, particularly on and around Balls Green and Ashurst.

The Environment Agency has also issued flood alerts for several areas including the 'Middle River Medway'.

It says flooding is possible for the Medway from Penshurst to Hampstead Lock at Yalding, including the Leigh Flood Storage area, the Ensfield Road, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, the Hop Farm, East Peckham, Branbridges and Hale Street.

Flooding of roads and low lying land is expected from 10pm today, with flooding expected to affect Tonbridge playing fields, town centre car parks and low lying land and roads from Tonbridge through Tudeley and East Peckham. This is likely to include the sports pitches, also known as the racecourse, and Postern Lane in Tonbridge.

A flood alert has also been issued for the Rivers Eden and Eden Brook, with flooding possible from Blindley Heath to Penshurst including Edenbridge and Hever.

The agency expects flooding to affect low lying land and roads close to the rivers, particularly on and around Water Lane and Haxted Road.

A further flood alert is in force for Plenty, Swalecliffe and West Brooks; with flooding possible for Plenty Brook from Eddington to the sea, including Herne Bay, the Swalecliffe Brook from near Court Lees to the sea, including Chestfield and Swalecliffe and the West Brook from the railway line to the sea including Studd Hill and Hampton.

Flooding is expected to affect low lying land and roads along Swalecliffe Brook in Swalecliffe and low lying land and roads along rivers in the area, particularly around Herne Bay.

A seperate alert has also been issued for the River Darent from Westerham to Dartford, with flooding possible for the River Darent from Westerham to Dartford, including Brasted, Sundridge, Chipstead, Dunton Green, Otford, Eynsford and South Darenth.

Flooding is likely in multiple areas along the River Darent, particularly to low land near the river between Westerham and Otford.

Flooding of properties is not forecast at this point but river levels could remain high until tomorrow afternoon as there are further showers and heavy rainfall forecast overnight between 6pm until 6am tomorrow.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "Our incident response staff are out on the ground checking and clearing any blockages and debris from rivers and actively monitoring the situation and are prepared to respond if required.

"Please stay aware in case further warnings are issued."

For all the forecasts, warnings and weather related news, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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