Parts of Staffordshire were affected by flooding on Wednesday night as heavy rain swept across the wider West Midlands region. The Environment Agency (EA) issued a flood alert for south Staffordshire, with areas of Chasetown among those hit. That alert remains in place.
The risk of flash flooding may become higher due to the dry, hard ground following weeks of very dry weather.
Up to 20-30mm (0.8-1.2in) of rain could fall in just a few hours, with up to 50mm (2in) over a 12-hour period.
Gnosall has been identified as being the 2nd highest risk of surface water flooding in Staffordshire (2015 Local Flood Risk Strategy 2015), and may be affected by heavy rain. Areas at risk of flooding include:
- Doley Brook
- Station Road
- Daffodil Drive
- Forresters Lane
- Wharf Road
- Brookhouse Road
- Wilbrighton Bridge
- Moreton Bridge
However, south Staffordshire has been classed as a lower-level flood alert area.
Further afield, fire crews were called to "significant flooding" in Perry Barr. Residents were advised to avoid the area. A flood warning for Birmingham has since been downgraded, though the EA warns that standing water and debris may still be present in the city.
A new flood warning has been issued for Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, where rising river levels are expected to affect roads and properties.
Chasetown resident Sue Woodhouse described the flooding on Saint Annes Close as "the worst we've seen it in the last seven years of living here," adding that heavy rain had returned on Thursday morning and she feared further flooding was likely.
On Thursday morning, flood alerts remain active across a number of areas, including:
- The River Blythe in Warwickshire
- The River Stour and Smestow Brook in the Black Country and south Staffordshire
- The Upper Tame at Sandwell Valley
- The River Salwarpe from Catshill to Hawford in Worcestershire
A yellow thunderstorm warning also covers England until 22:00 on Thursday evening, so residents in and around Gnosall should keep an eye on conditions and check the EA website for the latest flood alerts in our area.
Source: bbc.co.uk
