LONDON — On Monday morning, numerous homeowners in England and Wales faced significant challenges as the aftermath of the second substantial storm this winter continued to wreak havoc across the U.K.

The severe weather conditions, brought by Storm Bert, resulted in numerous rail service cancellations, as over 180 flood warnings were still in effect. The storm, which swept through the region over the weekend, unleashed heavy rainfall and winds reaching up to 80 mph. In certain locations, up to 130 millimeters (5.1 inches) of rain fell, leading to overflowing rivers and transforming roads into torrents of water.

A particularly alarming situation developed near the River Nene in Northampton, where officials issued a severe flood warning on Monday morning, indicating that there was a risk to life as water levels continued to rise significantly.
Among the areas most affected was Wales, where residents in Pontypridd took swift action to safeguard their homes. Many attempted to divert water back into the River Taff by using buckets to remove it from behind a flood wall. In southeast Wales, the two severe flood warnings related to the River Monnow were downgraded to regular flood warnings.

Experts attribute the increased intensity of storms to climate change, indicating that warmer oceans allow storms to gather more energy, contributing to higher wind speeds. Additionally, a warmer atmosphere has the capacity to retain more moisture, further exacerbating the severity of such weather events.