Up to 50mm of rainfall fell on the Newport area earlier today (Sunday), local meteorologists have confirmed.
Town centre shops were forced to close as rain water cascaded in, Coppins Bridge was underwater and fire crews were mobilised to a stranded motorist at Downend – all as a result of an intense period of torrential rain.
Although damage has been caused, no injuries have been reported with the motorists at Brriddlesford Road able to free themselves from the vehicle.
The highest rainfall recorded was at Downend (46.8mm), followed by Staplers (40.9), Binfield (31.2) and Nodehill (27.9).
Jamie Russell of IW Met Service has said:
“Newport saw the worst effects of the downpour and also places just a mile or two to the east and northeast with multiple reports of flood damage and vehicles breaking down on flooded roads.
“The highest rainfall totals were just north of Downend, although we believe that a small area between Briddlesford and Downend saw around 50mm or slightly higher due to some extremely strong radar returns from the area.
Article continues below this advertisement “These rainfall totals don’t sound like huge amounts compared with what we saw falling just a few days ago, but you must remember that this is over a space of 30-45 minutes, whereas the 40mm odd that has fallen over recent days happened over the course of a day or two, meaning that the water had time to drain away.
“If we see anything over 10mm falling in the space of half an hour it would likely lead to flash (sudden) flooding, so the 30-40mm of rain that fell around the Newport area inevitably caused flash flooding as all that water seeks out the lowest point, all rushing down the drains and into the rivers and streams”.
“…as all that water seeks out the lowest point, all rushing down the drains and into the rivers and streams”.
I think a major problem here is in fact the water being unable to flow down the drains efficiently due to lack of maintenance.