HEAVY RAINS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 7

HEAVY RAINS

FLOODS IN ENGLAND THAMES RIVER RISES [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Dec. 30. Further heavy rains occurred during the week-end. Extensive flooding is reported in various parts c-f Eng land, and many important roads are temporarily impassable. Owing to a quick thaw in the Cotswold Hills tributaries of the Thames have been in spate, and at several places the Thames River overflowed its oanks during the week-end. Flooding so far is not serious, but the situation was aggravated by heavy rain in the Thames valley last night. The rate c-f flow of the river yesterday at Teedington Lock, where it meets tidal water was 5,500,000,000 gallons in twenty four hours, as compared with the standard daily average for December of 2,073,000,000 gallons. Owing to- the subsidence of a railway embankment near Blackheath, a south-eastern suburb of London, due to the recent heavy rains, a section of the Southern Railway ha<=- been tern porarily closed to traffic. Reports from the flooded areas indicate some abatement of the rising water. The Thames, however, is carrying a greater volume of water to-day and rises arc reported along it<- course from. Leichladc down to Shopperton. The rate in the twenty-four hours .still does not approach the high figures of .1929, the last big flood year, FLOODING WIDESPREAD RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL RTVKR THAMES OVERFLOWS [ British Official Wireless. ] Received Jan. 1. 8.45 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. L The hea\'v rains wniclr continued throughout ‘the night, and were still falling this morning have flooded areas in many districts. In its u.pper reaches, the Thames has overflowed its banks in several dis- | triets an 1 lower down the river be- ; tween Windsor and Maidenheadmeadows are under water, including historic, Runny mode. In Lincolnshire, and in the country, floods are very extensive. Flooding is also serious in the Medway A alley. In the western counties many roads ate under water. It is expected that the rainfall for the month will exceed the standard of 2 9 inches. The rate of flow of the Thames has increased bv 700,000,000 gallons in the last 24 hours, and is now about 6,500,000.000 gallons per 24 hours at Teddington. All along its bourse the river is rising. Floods are widespread and in many parts of the countrv farming has been brought to a standstill by water-logged ground. Crops are suffering damage. Rain to-dav has caused a c liff to fall on the south eoast and a second landslide affected the Southern Railway line within 48 hours. The Portsmouth-London main line near ITasleinere. in Surrey, wa.s blocked for a considerable distance, but nn accident occurred and single line traffic was quickly restored.