In the wake of Storm Babet, residents in a Nottinghamshire town are grappling with severe flooding, prompting authorities to issue evacuation advisories. Nottinghamshire County Council has

declared a major incident as the River Idle surges to unprecedented levels, putting around 500 homes in Retford at risk.

Over the weekend, the river hit record heights, with water levels still on the rise. Tragically, in Chesterfield, a woman in her 80s lost her life due to flooding associated with the storm. Initially, Derbyshire Constabulary suggested the death was related to the flooding, but later clarified that investigations are ongoing.

In the Retford area, two severe flood warnings have been issued, signifying a peril to life. Although rain is expected to ease across the country, leading to drier and brighter conditions, the Environment Agency has cautioned that flooding along major rivers may persist for several days.

Katharine Smith, the flood duty manager, stated, "Following persistent, heavy rain from Storm Babet, severe river flooding impacts are probable in parts of the East Midlands and South Yorkshire... into Sunday. Ongoing flooding is probable on some larger rivers including the Severn, Ouse, and Trent through to Tuesday."

England currently has more than 150 flood warnings and approximately 140 flood alerts in effect. Residents in Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire are also being cautioned to prepare for additional flooding in the days ahead.

Certain regions in Scotland, where rare red weather warnings were activated over the weekend, face significant challenges due to the extent of the damage. There are concerns that some families may be unable to return home for Christmas.

Travel disruptions persist, with train companies reporting issues in Yorkshire, East Anglia, the East Midlands, and Scotland. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has advised passengers not to travel north of Edinburgh due to urgent repairs at Plessey Viaduct.

Meteorologist Gemma Plumb of BBC Weather noted that several areas in north and east England, along with Scotland, received a month's worth of rain in just a few days because of Storm Babet. In some instances, the rainfall exceeded twice the average monthly precipitation.

Tragedy has struck, with three confirmed deaths since the storm's arrival on Thursday. This includes a man in his 60s who was swept away by fast-flowing floodwater in Cleobury Mortimer, a 56-year-old man who perished after his van collided with a tree near Forfar, and a 67-year-old woman who was swept into the Water of Lee. In Aberdeenshire, a driver remains missing, with search efforts ongoing.

The recent loss of life in Chesterfield has spurred calls for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including potential measures to prevent similar flooding in the future. Photo by Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2023, Wikimedia commons.