Flood alerts and travel disruption – what you need to know as downpours lash Birmingham

Flood alerts have been issued in the West Midlands with river levels rising after a night of heavy rain. Four flood warnings were in effect today, May 22, in the region.

Transport chiefs have also warned drivers and train passengers to plan their journeys ahead to expect disruption on tracks and roads. It came after The Met Office yesterday issued a weather warning of “heavy rain” for Birmingham and the West Midlands – and warned there could be “danger to life”.

The yellow flood warning will remain in effect until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23. The Met Office warning said: “Heavy rain may cause some flooding and travel disruption. Some communities may be blocked by flooded roads.”

READ MORE: Rain in Birmingham lives on as torrential downpours wreak havoc on rush hour travel

Flood Alerts

Four flood warnings were in effect this morning, May 22. River levels were rising near Old Budbrooke Road in Warwick as a result of persistent and heavy rain.

As a result, flooding of nearby roads and properties was possible today, forecasters warned. Flooding could also affect properties along Lodge Crescent.

Other flood warnings in place were for the River Cole, the River Stour/Smestow Brook and the upper River Tame:

• River Cole – River level rising at Swans Barn gauge following persistent heavy rain. Flooding may affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Cole between Majors Green and Coleshill
• River Stour and Smestow Brook – River levels rising at Swindon River gauge following persistent heavy rain. As a result, flooding of roads and farmland is possible this afternoon and overnight
• Upper Tame – River levels are forecast to rise at the Brookvale Road gauge following continued heavy rain today. Flooding will affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Tame between Horseley Heath and Castle Vale and Ford Brook between Walsall and Bescot

Transport chiefs issued a warning on Gov.uk which said: “Please avoid using footpaths and low bridges near local watercourses. Plan driving routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.”

Trip interruption

Network Rail has this morning warned passengers to expect disruption – including potential cancellations – to train services running between Birmingham International and Coventry. It said: “Due to heavy rain and flooding on the rail line between Birmingham International and Coventry, trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

“As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised.” The outage was expected to last throughout peak hours. Below is a list of routes that have experienced disruption:

• Avanti West Coast services between Blackpool North / Birmingham New Street / Edinburgh / Manchester Piccadilly / Shrewsbury / Wolverhampton and London Euston
• CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street / Manchester Piccadilly / Nottingham and Bournemouth
• Northwestern Rail services from London between Birmingham New Street and London Euston / Northampton
• West Midlands Rail services between Birmingham New Street and Coventry

Network Rail has warned train passengers to plan their journeys ahead of time due to journey disruption. You can check your journey using National Rail Inquiries’ Real Time Journey Planner.