LevellerLive

Here is the latest flooding update from the Environment Agency provided at lunchtime on Monday 24 February 2014

Weather forecast Monday will be a generally dry day with the chance of an isolated shower. A band of rain will move across the area later on Monday evening bringing totals of 5 to 9 mm of rain. Tuesday will bring blustery showers with rainfall totals up to 8 mm possible.

•  Muchelney, Thorney and Langport – The roads leading to the villages of Muchelney and Thorney remain flooded and impassable. There may be scope to switch on pumps at Midelney/Huish Episcopi later today, subject to river levels and downstream conditions. Monksleaze Clyce has been opened gradually since Saturday, allowing more flows down the Sowy/Kings Sedgemoor Drain system, in turn, relieving levels in the Rivers Parrett and Tone. River levels in the Yeo and the Parrett are falling but drain levels in adjacent moors remain high. With reducing river levels, we can expect to operate pumping stations this afternoon.
• West Sedgemoor – The levels at West Sedgemoor Pumping Station remain high but stable. One pump is operating at the pumping station and will continue to pump as long as conditions allow.
• Curry Moor – The levels in Curry Moor are slowly reducing as a result of river levels dropping.  The spillway at Hookbridge has stopped, but Athelney spillway continues to run. We continue to monitor the situation closely at Curry Moor. There are two static diesel and one 24” temporary pump currently running at the pumping station. The A361 remains closed and this will be the case until the Athelney spillway stops running and the levels in Northmoor and Saltmoor drop.
• Northmoor and Saltmoor – Northmoor and Saltmoor Pumping Stations are operating at full capacity. We currently have over 50 pumps serving the area in and around Moorland.  The levels at Northmoor and Saltmoor are dropping. A pipeline is being laid as a contingency to make sure fuel can continue to be supplied to Saltmoor Pumping Station, should this be needed.
• Huntworth – Four large capacity Dutch pumps have been installed near Newhouse Farm to allow us to pump water from the moors into the River Parrett. These are not currently running, but will remain in place as a contingency for the high tides expected later this week.
• Sowy – Monksleaze Clyce is currently being opened gradually.  We currently have eight pumps in place at Dunball, all of which are operational and running during high tides.
• Westonzoyland – All pumps (including the five temporary pumps) are operational and water levels in the Penzoy (Andersea Main Rhyne) are currently falling slowly.
• Aller Drove –  We have placed some temporary flood defences along Aller Drove to mitigate any increased flood risk here. The pumps at Beer Wall are running as required for the increased flows above. We will continue to monitor water levels downstream on the Kings Sedgemoor Drain as part of the overall pumping strategy and pump operating timings.
• Long Load – Levels in the River Yeo are currently falling. Levels on the adjacent moors remain high but stable.
• Brue and Axe – River levels in the catchment remain high but stable with no significant issues.