Further heavy rainfall across the Isle of Wight has led to the flooding of roads and has prompted 2 flood alerts to be issued by the Environment Agency this afternoon (Thursday).
Several key connecting roads on the Island are underwater this afternoon including Middle Road near Calbourne, Whitwell Road and Chatfield Road near Whitwell, Havenstreet Main Road & Smallbrook Lane near Ryde, Merstone Lane near Godshill and Highwood Lane on the outskirts of Rookley.
Southford Lane at Whitwell has been closed by Island Roads due to flooding, along with Harding Shute in Ryde and Clatterford Shute in Newport due to high water levels.
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for Lugley Brook as it says water levels in Newport are high and rising. Water levels are also high on the Eastern Yar, resulting in a second alert being issued.
In the last 24 hours, 20mm of rain has fallen at Carisbrooke. This is a significant volume in a short period of time. In the next 1 hour, the river will rise to bankfull and could come out of bank from Old Westminster Lane to Hunny Cross Way, flooding footpaths. Surface water flooding could affect the bottom of Castle Street.
Further rain is expected over the next 6 hours, and the Aquatics Centre at Vicarage Walk near Foxes Road will remain vulnerable to flood impacts during this time.
In the East and South of the Island, 25mm of rain has been recorded at Knighton. Most of that rain has fallen in the last 6 hours on already wet ground.
In Alverstone, from 16:00 this afternoon, the river will be high, rising close to the top of the river bank near the main road bridge. It will also flood Golf Links Road and Moreton Common Road at Sandown. Rain is not expected to clear the area until 18:00 this evening.
The river is unlikely to peak until at least 22:00 this evening, and with continued rain this afternoon, possibly not until the early hours of Friday morning. By 19:00, levels will be very high at Langbridge and Alverstone.
According to the EA, all of their debris screens are clear and are allowing the river to flow freely. Residents are being told to ensure that pumps used to protect property are operating or that you can take action to protect property if required.
A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is in force for the Isle of Wight today. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/heavy-rain-expected-throughout-today-with-weather-warning-in-place/.
UPDATE – A flood alert has also been issued for the River Medina. Water levels in the River Medina at Blackwater are high and continue to rise.
Out of bank flooding may be affecting land, gardens and roads at Blackwater Mill and Sandy Lane. It is unlikely that the river will cause impacts at St George’s Way.
At Blackwater, the river should peak in a few hours, around 1800 hrs this evening. Tomorrow remains dry and the river should return to normal.
I’m am not saying that this is 100% of the problem but the roadside drains are not cleaned enough, causing complete blockages!
Becoming a vegan gender neutral and riding my bike everywhere has made no difference to climate change
Very good!
It won’t stop the idiots from driving too fast…..
It doesn’t help when the Isle of Wight council have given a contract to island roads to maintain highway drainage but island roads are cutting back on maintenance and also allowing excessive road surface water to drain off into already waterlogged land which then shifts detritus and silt from roads and land flooding more land which overspills onto more roads. Lushington Hill Road surface water is being channeled into pipes that lead out into fields that run off the already waterlogged land land which is flooding park road by the bridge. They are aware of this and are neglecting their responsibilities.
The council and island roads are supposed to work together to make sure highways are kept clear and maintained !
All I can see is failure of services and utter lack of care for the community.
They are working together to embezel millions of pounds into the top guys of both the council and island roads that about it… Flood signs suffice for there failures
Land owners where water is know to flood off of their land should be forced to dig ditches to limit the issue, OR have contractors do such and be charged for the work involved.
That OR the council charges all land owners an additional charge on any land that abuts highways and then sorts the problems using that cash.
Why should WE pay for the lazy landowners neglect washing their dirt onto our roads
It is funny that every single road that island roads have resurfaced has since become a river and a flood hazard… What road drainage? Everything just drains across them now… And to excuse themselves of such a s*** job they just run around putting flood signs all over the place
So it’s all island roads fault is it, not just mother nature then