UPDATE: 9.20PM

AN ADULT and two babies were rescued after the car they were in was stuck in floodwater near Llanellen.

Crews from Abergavenny and rescue boats from Barry carried out the rescue and were helped by a passing tow truck which pulled the car to safety. All three are well said a spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue.

UPDATE: 8.40PM

A woman and child were rescued from their vehicle on Abbey Road, Hendre near Monmouth

Fire crews with a boat took them to safety after they were trapped in their vehicle by flood water.

UPDATE: 6.30PM

An underpath in Duffryn is under approx 6ft of water. Crews using portable pump to remove water.

UPDATE: 5.20PM

A fire crew from Duffryn has been called to assess flooding on Lighthouse Road in Duffryn.

UPDATE: 5.52PM

The line between Newport and Hereford has now reopened but Arriva Trains Wales warn that residual delays will continue while services recover.

Trains to Cardiff and further west are experiencing delays from Newport.

UPDATE: 4.12PM

Blaenant Industrial Estate, Brynmawr is now closed due to flooding.

UPDATE: 4.10PM

The A467 in Abercarn is closed in both directions between Chapel of Ease Roundabout and Cwmcarn Roundabout, because of flooding.

UPDATE: 4.02PM

Aneurin Bevan Health Board said services at Nevill Hall Hospital are running as normal. More here: http://blog ow.ly/s1dFR

UPDATE: 3.16PM

The River Usk at Usk is flowing very high as this picture shows:

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 3.11PM

The following road closures/blocks are in place in Blaenau Gwent:

  • The roundabout at the bottom of Cemetery Road, Ebbw Vale
  • Stable Lane, Tredegar is currently blocked - a car is stuck in 18 inches of water.
  • Beaufort Road, Sirhowy - raised drain/flooding.
  • A4048 closed between Blackwood and Tredegar

UPDATE: 3.06PM

Gwent Police advise drivers to stick to main roads where possible, avoid rural/isolated lanes, make sure you have your phone charged, have warm and waterproof clothing/blankets in your car as well as food and drink supplies.

UPDATE: 2.59PM

A Network Rail spokesman said the line between Newport and Hereford was closed at about 12.30pm when flooding was reported at Nantyderry, between Pontypool and Abergavenny.

He said there are “several locations are flooded in that area” and that trains were stopped because flooding was higher than the rails. He added the rain was “quite extraordinary”.

UPDATE: 2.56PM

Due to flooding Pontypool Active Living Centre has been closed for the remainder of the day.

UPDATE: 2.44PM

The Environment Agency have given the following amber flood alerts for rivers in Gwent:

Rivers Ebbw, Sirhowy and Lwyd in Blaenau Gwent
River Usk in Monmouthshire and Newport
River Rhymney from Bargoed to Cardiff

More on the Environment Agency website

South Wales Argus:

 

UPDATE: 1.51PM

THE A4048 Tredegar is closed both ways due to flooding between A4047 Beaufort Road in Tredegar and Railway Terrace in Hollybush.

UPDATE: 1.48PM

The A40 is just passable on Monmouth Road in Abergavenny between the Hardwick Roundabout and the Plas Derwen Way junction because of flooding.

UPDATE: 1.42PM

Passengers advised not to travel between Newport and Hereford today as train services are suspended due to flooding. Arriva Trains Wales say there is no replacement bus service. They added that tickets for today will be accepted tomorrow.

UPDATE: 1.25PM

The railway between Newport and Hereford is blocked because of flooding with no replacement service running at the moment.

UPDATE: 1.11PM

Ticket restrictions have been lifted by Arriva Trains Wales due to poor weather reports on some lines. Customers can travel on any train today or tomorrow.

UPDATE: 12.49PM

The A40 between Abergavenny and Crickhowell is partly blocked by a fallen tree. Some delays to X43 bus service.

UPDATE: 12.48PM

The M48 Severn Bridge closed to high sided vehicles and one lane closed between Chepstow and Aust because of strong winds.

UPDATE: 12.47PM

A Tesco spokesperson said: “All our stores in Newport are extremely busy today, so colleagues are doing all they can to help customers. In our Newport Extra store for example, colleagues are getting into the festive spirit by wearing Christmas jumpers and handing out sweets to customers.”

Darren Jenkins, the deputy manager of the Sainsbury’s store in Pontllanfraith, said the store was very busy and that it had opened at 6am in the morning and would remain open until midnight to cope with demand.

He said sales had been “very, very, very buoyant”, despite “horrific” weather and that the store was performing “way above expectations.” All of the store’s checkouts were open and marshals were directing drivers in its car park.

A Waitrose spokeswoman said the supermarket will have sold over 52,000 bags of ice and 33 tonnes of cranberry sauce in the run up to Christmas.

While a spokeswoman for Lidl said their own brand champagne has been their biggest seller of the Christmas period so far, outselling milk.

UPDATE: 12.29PM

There were traffic delays on Cardiff Road leading up to the Tesco store in Newport, with thousands passing through the doors to get their last-minute essentials.

People are heeding the advice of the fire service who have told residents to do their shopping in the day as the weather is expected to worsen later tonight.

Jeanette Savage, 60, works for The Dream Team - a charity for terminally ill children. She was also at her stall at the store yesterday, and said: “I think this is always the main shopping day before Christmas. It is slightly busier today than it was yesterday but we’re expecting it to get busier again.”

Kate McLeod, 44, from Newport, said: “This is just last minute shopping to make sure I’ve got everything I need, and I think a lot of people are the same. Finding a place to park was quite stressful to be honest!”

UPDATE: 12.09PM

FIRECREWS have been called to High Street in Argoed where three houses are at risk of flooding.

Two crews from Cefn Fforest are at the scene as are Caerphilly council staff equipped with a gulley sucker to unblock clogged drains.

 


 

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