Flood alert across South East London

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert across south east London, as already high groundwater levels have “increased rapidly” following recent rainfall.

The agency has warned that it expects some properties with deep basements to start flooding imminently, and a general flood alert is in force across Greenwich and Woolwich, Bexley, Sidcup, Lewisham, Bromley and Orpington.

The alert states that flooding is possible and warns residents to be prepared over the next few days.

The warning about deep basements actually relates to two specific roads in Purley:

“We expect properties with deep basements in Dale Road and Godstone Road in Purley will start flooding imminently. However, due to the nature of groundwater flooding, other properties may also experience flooding too.”

Of more local interest, the site below shows the water levels in our local rivers (eg the Pool measured at Winsford Road, and the Ravensbourne measured at Catford Hill). Current levels seem quite low - well below their highest recorded levels and nowhere near the level at which they would flood.

I’ve worked out how to insert a picture:

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