South Wales Police have reported various flooding incidents across southern Wales during Friday night and Saturday morning due to the storm moving across the region.
People in the town of Ironbridge, England, were evacuated on Feb. 26 as the River Severn breached flood barriers.
As water levels reach record-breaking levels along the River Severn, floodwaters have been pouring into towns and threatening to breach barriers in others.
An unsettled pattern over the British Isles in February has brought rounds of rain to the region, including downpours from windstorms Ciara and Dennis.
As rainfall totals climbed through the month, flood barrier walls were set up along the River Severn that runs from central Wales through western England.
According to the UK Met Office, latest rainfall data reveals that February 2020 is now the wettest February on record. A UK average of 202.1 mm has fallen, beating February 1990 where 193.4 mm fell.
Rising water levels caused the river to pour over these barriers in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on Tuesday night after heavy rain moved through the area, according to The Telegraph.
Farther north, the strength of the floodwaters pushed back the barriers in Ironbridge, but the barriers remained intact, reported Chief Superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police in a tweet.
Officials announced an 'immediate evacuation' in Ironbridge as the river continued to test the flood barriers, uncertain if the structures would continue to hold back floodwaters.
We're currently carrying out an immediate evacuation in #Ironbridge due to the temporary barriers becoming overwhelmed. Officers from @WMerciaPolice @shropsfire @TelfordWrekin @EnvAgencyMids are in the area. If you are affected please head to the Tontine Hotel.
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While flood barriers are already struggling against the weight of the water, some points on River Severn are still forecast to rise.
As of Friday afternoon, local time, River Severn at Bewdley was at 5.48 m (17.98 feet) and is forecast to approach the highest level recorded at this location, which was 5.56 m (18.24 feet) on Nov. 2, 2000.
At Worcester, the river level reached 5.76 m (18.90 feet), breaking the previous record highest level of 5.74 m (18.83 feet) set on Feb. 13, 2014.
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are still in effect across the United Kingdom, meaning that flooding is expected and immediate action is required or flooding is possible and residents need to be prepared for worsening conditions.
I’m at #Ironbridge as the town holds its breath...
The flood barriers along the Wharfage have been pushed back by the force of the river.
There is a real concern that they might fail.
If they do, no-one knows what might happen to the shops and houses behind them...
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On Tuesday, most Network Rail lines were closed as floodwaters reached dangerous levels on the Severn Viaduct, which carries the majority of lines in and out of Shrewsbury station, according to BBC News.
Lines will remain closed until water levels recede and the safety of the viaduct has been ensured.
On Monday, the A5 between Gobowen and Gledrid was closed due to high water. Several schools across the region were closed at the start of the week as the flooding situation worsened, according to BBC News.
Businesses are remaining open as long as they can in Shrewsbury, but the town remains accessible only by foot.
"If the barriers breach at Coleham again, as they did last week, then that will close off the town and the English Bridge," Clive Wright of the Shropshire Council told BBC News.
#Severe flood warning for #Shrewsbury many roads closed, do not ignore the signs and please do not drive or wade through standing water. This includes press and media. #StaySafe #FloodAware
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A resident who lives near the English Bridge, Debbie Bradbury-Walker, and her partner Anna told the news agency that 0.08-0.1 meters (3-4 inches) of water filled the ground floor of their house.
The residents said it's the first time water entered their home in the five years they lived there, according to the BBC.
Thousands of homes have been evacuated since Storm Dennis aggravated flooding across Wales and England during the middle of February.
Even as river levels begin to recede in the coming days, the threat of flooding will continue to loom over the area. AccuWeather meteorologists say the stormy pattern that has set up over northern Europe is forecast to continue into at least next week.
"Blustery conditions will accompany another line of showers early Saturday morning through midday across Wales and England," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.
Some of these showers could be wintry in the higher terrain of both countries, as well as Scotland.
This example of the continued unsettled pattern could exacerbate lingering flooding issues for the coming days.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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