Emergency Services Advise Public to Remain Indoors as Storm Bert Affects Southern England

Authorities responsible for emergency response in southern England have issued a recommendation for residents to remain indoors due to the passage of Storm Bert across the nation. On Sunday evening, the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) reported a significant increase in calls concerning individuals trapped in vehicles by floodwaters and instances of property flooding. The region is subject to yellow warnings for wind and rain, leading to the cancellation of numerous weekend events due to the prevailing weather. In Hampshire, a fatality occurred when a tree struck a vehicle on the A34; however, officials have not confirmed any connection between this incident and the storm. Numerous flood warnings have been issued across the southern areas. The OFRS stated on Facebook: “Most of our crews are out working hard to assist those in most need prioritising life risk calls.” They added, “Now is the time to take action if you are potentially facing flooding,” and “We urge you to not travel unless it is absolutely essential.” Thames Valley Police reported receiving several accounts of flooding within Oxfordshire, specifically mentioning Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire, and Vale of White Horse. The route from Hailey Road to Crawley Road in Witney was shut down on Sunday evening because of flooding, according to the police. Gusts of wind reaching 74.9mph (127.7km/h) were registered at the Needles, situated off the Isle of Wight. These represented the second strongest winds in the UK, surpassed only by the 82mph recorded in the Welsh village of Capel Curig. Severe weather affected Great Western Railway services operating between Reading and Basingstoke. Additionally, Southwestern Railway services bound for London Waterloo experienced disruptions due to a tree obstructing the tracks between Fleet and Farnborough, Hampshire. The Met Office reported that Sunday was unusually mild for November, with a peak temperature of 17.8C (64F) observed in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, prior to 10:00 GMT. Among the weekend closures were Harold Hillier Arboretum and Gardens in Hampshire and Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset. Furthermore, the organisers of Wokingham’s Winter Carnival announced that the event would not proceed. They explained: “The high winds being forecast for this Sunday would not allow us to put up the stage, operate the fairground and would be dangerous for our stallholders.” On Saturday, Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, ceased operations for its light trail within the landscaped gardens, the Christmas market, and the ice rink, which had been launched for the first time the previous week. These attractions were to remain inaccessible until 14:00 on Sunday. The Banbury Victorian Christmas Market was called off following stalls being overturned overnight. Organisers stated: “Despite our best efforts to secure the stalls overnight, the intensity of the winds has caused significant damage, making it unsafe for our team, traders, and visitors to continue with the event.” Banbury Town Council announced the cancellation of its Christmas lights switch-on ceremony, citing “weather conditions and safety concerns.” However, the council noted that the “newly designed Christmas lights scheme can be enjoyed from tonight and throughout the festive season.” Cotswold Wildlife Park confirmed that only individuals holding pre-purchased tickets or season tickets would be permitted entry on Sunday. Other prospective visitors were advised to reschedule their visits “until conditions improve.” Overnight, hundreds of residences in south Oxfordshire, predominantly those with RG9 postcodes, experienced power outages. In Reading, the scheduled installation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge on the A33 Relief Road has been deferred. Resurfacing work had also been part of the plans. Consequently, the A33 Relief Road, which was slated for closure during these operations, will remain open as normal. South Western Railway announced that trains would operate at a reduced speed across all lines, potentially causing delays and disruptions until midday on Monday. Services connecting Exeter and London Waterloo will commence and terminate at Basingstoke. Due to safety inspections, all services are commencing later than their usual schedule on both Sunday and Monday. The train operator’s services also faced interruptions due to trees obstructing the tracks between Reading and Basingstoke, and between Woking and Farnborough Main. A Network Rail spokesperson stated: “Trains were able to be cautioned through the area until our teams were able to get to the site and remove the branches.”