Storm Bert latest: Danger to life weather warnings as 300 areas hit by flood risk

Homes and cars are underwater as Storm Bert continues to take its destructive toll on Wales.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued more than 100 flood warnings and alerts across the country, with bridges shut and roads closed.

Rising waters have been reported in towns across the country, including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare, with landslides in north Wales.

Videos and pictures being shared on social media show parts of Pontypridd underwater, with cars submerged and homeowners bailing out their properties next to the River Taff.

The Pontypridd Parkrun Facebook page said: “Our park has been flooded again whilst we do not know the full extent of any damage yet, initial pictures do not look good.”

Rhondda Cynon Taf council has declared a major incident due to “significant flooding” across the county, the BBC reports.

Pictures are emerging on social media showing parts of Pontypridd submerged by floodwaters. The council said it had set up emergency rest centres at Pontypridd library and Ystrad sports centre.

The number of areas at risk of flooding has now increased to nearly 400.

In England, the Environment Agency has issued 76 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and a further 193 flood alerts, which warn that it is possible.

In Wales, there are 51 flood warnings in force – mostly in the southeast – and a further 60 alerts.

Scotland is subject to five warnings – one in Orkney, three in Tayside, and another at Strath Oykel – along with six alerts.

More than 100 short-haul flights to and from London Heathrow airport have been cancelled on Sunday.

The vast majority – at least 94 – are on British Airways. The airline has grounded three round trips to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Milan, as well as multiple European flights to and from Rome, Copenhagen, Madrid, Brussels and Paris. Domestic departures to Aberdeen, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle are also affected.

The Independent is seeking the reason for the cancellations. With high winds expected, it is usual for the “flow rate” of landing aircraft to be reduced, and for airlines at Heathrow to be asked to reduce the number of flights.

In addition to the BA cancellations, Aer Lingus has grounded one flight each serving Cork, Dublin and Shannon. Lufthansa has cancelled one flight to Munich and two to Frankfurt.

Finnair, Swiss and Turkish Airlines have also grounded one flight each to their hubs

It has been an exceptionally mild start in places this morning, with temperatures 6C to 10C above the daytime November maximum, according to the Met Office.

Violent storm force 11 winds – the most powerful short of hurricane-force on the Beaufort scale – are set to hit British waters on Sunday, according to the BBC’s shipping forecast.

The forecast, which denotes winds of between 64 and 72mph, has been issued in four areas – Rockall, around 200 miles west of the Hebrides, Bailey, which lies further north, the Faroes, and southeast Iceland.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said his department is in close contact with energy firms as they seek to restore power to those affected by outages caused by Storm Bert.

Mr Miliband said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by Storm Bert.

“For those who have lost power, my department will be keeping in close touch with the energy companies as they seek to ensure it is restored as swiftly as possible and help those affected.”

Hundreds of trains have been cancelled because of the effects of Storm Bert.

The main problem on the network from London Waterloo to Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Devon is fallen trees. There are blockages between Cobham and Oxshott; between Basingstoke and Farnborough; between Reading and Basingstoke; and between Exeter Central and Honiton.

Northern Rail Many Northern Rail passengers are experiencing difficult journeys. Trains cannot run between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness due to flooding in the Ulverston area. “Due to the adverse weather conditions, Northern are currently struggling for road transport availability,” National Rail says.

The Settle-Carlisle line across the Pennines is closed due to flooding in the Hellifield area. The Leeds-Harrogate-York line is also blocked east of Horforth.

Due to the impact of Storm Bert, the Heart of Wales line between Shrewsbury and Swansea as well as the link from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog are both closed. Bus replacements are in place. Flooding on the Valley lines north of Cardiff is also causing cancellations.

Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

Five crews attended the incident after the fire and rescue service was called just prior to 2pm on Saturday. The property has sustained substantial damage, the service said.