Wales amber weather warning causes flooding

Heavy rain is causing flooding and disruption across parts of Wales.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for rain across mid and south east Wales on Sunday from 15:00 GMT until 06:00 on Monday.

The forecaster warned rain could become “persistent and heavy” on Sunday followed by showers into Monday morning, leading to surface water and river flooding.

Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said at 19:00 “the next few hours will be crucial,” as crews distribute sandbags to high-risk flood areas across the county borough.

Flooding has blocked railway lines between Penrhiwceiber and Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, while the council’s emergency control room remains “fully staffed”.

The Met Office said up to 70mm (2.8in) of rain was expected “fairly widely” and up to 100mm (4in) on exposed hills.

The amber rain warning covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.

A less severe yellow warning for rain is in place from 12:00 on Sunday until 08:00 on Monday covering Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued 35 flood alerts and 10 flood warnings. The warnings on Sunday evening cover parts of the River Cothi, River Towy, River Tawe, River Neath, River Ely, River Usk, River Lower Clydach and the River Taff in Cardiff, Pontypridd and Upper Boat.

It said it will continue to monitor the situation.

North Wales Police has reported the A4086 road at Llanberis is currently closed due to flooding to the south of the Royal Victoria Hotel.

Meanwhile, National Rail said no trains are running between Abercynon and Aberdare due to flooding blocking the lines between Penrhiwceiber and Aberdare.

Disruption is expected to continue until the end of Sunday.

On Sunday evening the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council said teams are distributing several thousand sandbags to key flood-risk areas across the county borough while dozens of crews and heavy machinery will remain on standby to help communities.

He added pumps have been deployed, additional inspectors and drainage engineers are on-site and the local authority’s emergency control room is fully staffed, with CCTV cameras monitoring the culverts being closely watched.

Morgan said while it is NRW’s responsibility to monitor the river banks and support residents, the council is doing everything it can to assist as he “understands how concerned people are”.

He added: “We are closely monitoring the river gauges, which are currently at very high levels.

“Whilst the flooding is not extremely serious at the moment, the next few hours will be crucial.”

The council also advised residents to move their cars from high-risk areas and offered free parking spaces to those in need.

Mick Antoniw, MS for Pontypridd, said in an update at around 21:00 that cars had been removed from Sion Street and Berw Road in the town with flood gates in place at Clwb Y Bont.

He added the River Taff was “very high” but the streets had not flooded.

Resident James Wilcox was out walking his dog when he captured footage of the River Taff in Pontypridd.

He said it initially looked like police were blocking the road off and were knocking on doors.

“A friend lives on the street, and they’ve since placed sandbags, so I assume the police were ensuring everyone was informed and safe,” Mr Wilcox added.