Advice to take extra care on Devon's roads following latest weather warning

More heavy rain is forecast for Devon this evening and throughout the weekend, and road users are being urged to take extra care on the county’s roads.

Yellow Severe Weather Warnings have been issued by the Met Office for further persistent downpours tonight and over the weekend.

Heavy rain is forecast from 9pm tonight until 9am tomorrow morning with the possibility of up to 35mm in some places before it clears. The same is expected from 9pm on Saturday evening until 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

It follows last night’s rain which caused surface water flooding on the A3052 in East Devon, A39 in North Devon, and A386 in West Devon. There were also trees down in Honiton, Kingsford, Ottery St Mary, Totnes and Umberleigh, and a landslip at Mounts Hill/Lisham’s Drain in Colyton, which had to be closed temporarily but re-opened early this morning.

With surface water flooding and spray expected to make travelling conditions challenging over the next few days, Devon County Council is reminding people to plan ahead and allow more time for their journey.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We’ve seen some torrential downpours over the last couple of weeks so the ground is already saturated, and with more rain on the way that could lead to surface water flooding on some local roads. There may be debris and standing water on the network which hasn’t been reported so please take extra care and don’t risk driving through floodwater.”

Devon County Council is reminding people of the following advice:

• Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with poorer visibility;
• Be alert to fallen trees and branches, particularly on minor roads where they may not have been reported;
• Consider if your journey is essential and be alert to weather warnings;
• Never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Find an alternative route;
• Allow additional time for your journey;
• Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the vehicle in front;
• Drive with care and according to the conditions.

For more information and travel advice from Devon County Council visit www.devon.gov.uk/winter_travel or for updates on Twitter follow @DevonAlert