Flooding affecting thousands of homes from Cornwall to Scotland is a 'national emergency', Anne McIntosh, chair of the Commons Environment Select Committee told Sky News.
Further bad weather is expected today, forecasters said, with rain giving way to snow in southern Scotland and northern England as cold winds from the Arctic bring freezing temperatures.
A man sits and watches as a giant wave crashes over the promenade wall in Barmouth, Wales today
A surge of water engulfs the promenade wall in
Barmouth. Along parts of the front the force of the waves smashed
through the sea wall
Aberystwyth in Wales felt the full force of the storm, the most powerful for decades, as part of the promenade was torn up
Experts have been out assessing the damage today, which is expected to run into millions of pounds in Wales alone
A man watches the floodwaters rising in Shepton
Mallet, left. And right, Craig Robertson wades through the torrents of
water in the town
Locals in Aberystwyth discover a new path to the sea after the storm tore a huge hole in the sea wall
The promenade in Aberystwyth was ripped apart as the storm ravaged the coast
A bench is submerged in shingle and sea debris, thrown ashore as 30ft waves battered the beach
The Welsh coast was hit as the highest tides in
decades peaked at the same time as the storm unleashed its full force on
Friday night
Railings have collapsed and the paving has been
uprooted along the promenade in Aberystwyth, left. Right, farmland
around Leatherhead in Surrey is under water after the River Mole burst
its banks, buckling under the pressure of the storm
A pair of rowers take advantage of the flooded racecourse in Worcester, taking a run along the finishing straight
Worcester Racecourse is completely submerged
after the ferocious storm hit and torrents of rain fell on already
waterlogged ground
A tractor and trailer manages to get through the floodwater in Sutton, Cambridgeshire
He was spotted in waist high water by police and was dragged from the sea by Sergeant Reggie Butler and other officers and taken to hospital.
Officers secured a line to Sgt Butler, who waded out to pull the man to shore at Towan Beach, because there was no time to wait for other emergency services to get there.
Mr Butler tweeted: 'Great teamwork by my team again tonight rescuing male from sea. All played vital role, speed was essential.
'Not enough time for other emergency rescue services to get there, casualty was in danger, we had chance to rescue him.'
The officer added: 'Not heroes, just cops doing what cops do. Was an 'interesting' few minutes.'
The rescue came as The Met Office issued yellow warnings of rain in the south of England and snow in the north of England and southern parts of Scotland.
- What on Earth were they thinking? Shocking pictures from around the British coastline show people dicing with death just INCHES from monster waves
- Freezing temperatures set to continue as a POLAR VORTEX heads to the Midwest and chaos continues in airports across the country with more than 5,000 flights delayed today
Up to 30mm (1.1in) of rain could fall in just six hours, and there are more warnings of flooding and travel disruption.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has warned a storm surge is expected to hit the Forth near Glasgow later today.
There are currently four severe flood warnings in place for Gloucestershire and Dorset- the highest level - because the Environment Agency (EA) says there is a threat to life and property, with people being warned to stay away from the coast.
A further 103 flood warnings are in place, as well as 237 alerts spanning the Midlands, East Anglia, the South, North West and Wales.
The fresh warnings come as hopes began to fade for 18-year-old Harry Martin, who went missing on cliffs near Plymouth, Devon, after he told friends he was going to take photographs of the Atlantic storm.
The chaos caused by the widespread flooding comes the government came under fire as an estimated 1,700 jobs to be axed at the EA, with 550 staff from the floods team to go.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said front-line flood defences would be protected after the EA's chief executive Paul Leinster said risk maintenance would be 'impacted' and work on flood warnings would 'have to be resized'.
Mary Dhonau, chairwoman of the Flood Protection Association, said she was 'absolutely appalled' at the job losses at the EA.
She told BBC Breakfast that the jobs were necessary, adding: 'In this climate, and flooding is such a regular occurrence, it really is a no-brainer.'
Leslie Manasseh, deputy general secretary of trade union Prospect, called on the Government to stop the cuts.
'Last week David Cameron praised Environment Agency staff for doing an amazing job with the floods and extreme weather. It's typical that as soon as there is a crisis, the politicians immediately turn to the specialists and professionals with the scientific knowledge and skills to step in and protect the public,' he said.
Gatwick Airport has reassured passengers that flights are operating as normal following the heavy rain and strong winds. Contingency plans have been put in place at the airport to prepare for any potential flooding.
The Port of Dover said ships in the Channel were facing gale force five winds which was leading to some delays.
A spokesman said: 'Due to adverse weather conditions the terminal is experiencing slight delays to shipping movements. Passengers are advised to contact their shipping operator for further information.'
Trains have also suffered disruption with services from Newport and Bristol to the south coast affected by the weather.
Rail operator First Great Western was warning passengers that further rain and strong winds forecast for tomorrow afternoon 'may result in further disruption affecting our routes in Devon and Cornwall'.
Weather watchers who ignored warnings to avoid coastal areas during the violent storm surge have been told that they are putting themselves and the emergency services at risk.
Police have been forced from emergency calls to move sightseers who decided to get close to the violent storm surge, putting them at risk of being hit by debris or washed away.
Residents in Chiswell and Portland in Weymouth, Dorset were evacuated ahead of high tide last night, while around 100 people living in Aberystwyth, Dyfed, were advised to move to higher ground, with many taking shelter in rest centres.
People across the UK, from Devon to Cumbria and Sussex, protected their homes with sand bags and flood gates as the waters rose around them.
In London the Thames Barrier will close 1pm as a precaution to protect the capital against flooding, the EA said. It is expected to re-open at 4.30pm.
Sporting fixtures have also been affected. Two of today's FA Cup ties - Charlton Athletic's home tie with Oxford United and Crawley Town's clash with Bristol Rovers - have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches.
Meanwhile horse racing scheduled today at Sandown Park in Surrey and this afternoon's National Hunt meeting at Wincanton Racecourse in Somerset have been abandoned due to a waterlogged tracks.
The River Mole in Leatherhead, Surrey burst its banks over Christmas but
after days of torrential downpours the water level has not yet receded
Residents
in Ilfracombe, north Devon, even spent the night on their town’s beach
to collect sand for improvised flood defences. Emergency service workers
joined in their efforts to protect the resort from the gathering storm
and high tides.
High tides and large waves flooded streets in Looe in Cornwall and Salcombe and Kingsbridge in Devon, but the RNLI said it was not as bad as it had expected, the BBC said.
Emergency services rescued four people from a flooded farm in Llanbedr near Barmouth, north west Wales, the River Severn burst its banks in Gloucestershire and a pregnant woman was rescued after 30 properties were flooded in Cardigan, mid-Wales.
Two people have already died in the storms. A 27-year-old man from Surrey was found on Porthleven Sands beach in Cornwall after he was swept out to sea on New Year's Eve night, and a woman died after being rescued from the sea in Croyde Bay, north Devon.
The ferocious weather has left widespread damage. In Aberystwyth debris was strewn across the promenade, rail lines in north Wales were left buckled by the power of the sea and a road collapsed in Amroth, Pembrokeshire.
Experts along the Welsh coast are today assessing the damage, which is expected to run into millions of pounds after seawalls caved in against the mountainous waves.
The university town of Aberystwyth, where Prince Charles studied, bore the brunt of the storm and 150 students had to be evacuated from their accommodation.
Start of term examinations which were due to begin in Monday have been it back a week because of the disruption.
Pro vice-chancellor Rebecca Davies said: 'Waves have pretty much washed away big sections of the promenade.
'Our accommodation is now acting almost as the sea wall.'
Aberystwyth University student Millie Farmer said the town's promenade was a 'complete mess'.
Miss Farmer, a second year geography student, estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage had been done.
'They're starting to clear up. It's a complete mess," said Miss Farmer, 19, who comes from Shepreth, Cambridgeshire.
'You can't see the road. The promenade slabs have been scattered everywhere. It's an extension of the beach.
'It's a real shame. The front was damaged by storms a few weeks ago. They'd only just repaired it. Now it's been ruined again.'
Miss Farmer said seafront properties had been evacuated yesterday and rescue centres set up. She said waves had been 'spectacular'.
'The weather today is nothing like as bad as it was yesterday,' she said. 'But it was still pretty scary this morning. The waves hitting the front were twice as high as me - and I'm not far off six feet.'
A crowd of 200 people ignored warnings and turned up to watch the spectacular waves hitting the sea front in the town during the latest high tide.
But they were kept well back as the giant breakers picked up rocks and debris - throwing them onto the promenade.
More than 100 people spent Friday night in rest centres set up in the Victorian seaside resort.
Several hotels on seafront were flooded during the high tide and many hoteliers fled after the sandbags they put out were washed away.
Richard Griffiths of the Richmond Hotel said: 'Neighbours of mine were standing behind a window which just caved in.
'No one was injured but it just went straight through the building and out into the garden into the back.'
Other coastal roads in West Wales were also hit - with the surfing village of Newgale cut off after the sea wall gave in.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has warned a storm surge is expected to hit the Forth near Glasgow later today.
There are currently four severe flood warnings in place for Gloucestershire and Dorset- the highest level - because the Environment Agency (EA) says there is a threat to life and property, with people being warned to stay away from the coast.
A further 103 flood warnings are in place, as well as 237 alerts spanning the Midlands, East Anglia, the South, North West and Wales.
The fresh warnings come as hopes began to fade for 18-year-old Harry Martin, who went missing on cliffs near Plymouth, Devon, after he told friends he was going to take photographs of the Atlantic storm.
The chaos caused by the widespread flooding comes the government came under fire as an estimated 1,700 jobs to be axed at the EA, with 550 staff from the floods team to go.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said front-line flood defences would be protected after the EA's chief executive Paul Leinster said risk maintenance would be 'impacted' and work on flood warnings would 'have to be resized'.
Mary Dhonau, chairwoman of the Flood Protection Association, said she was 'absolutely appalled' at the job losses at the EA.
She told BBC Breakfast that the jobs were necessary, adding: 'In this climate, and flooding is such a regular occurrence, it really is a no-brainer.'
Leslie Manasseh, deputy general secretary of trade union Prospect, called on the Government to stop the cuts.
'Last week David Cameron praised Environment Agency staff for doing an amazing job with the floods and extreme weather. It's typical that as soon as there is a crisis, the politicians immediately turn to the specialists and professionals with the scientific knowledge and skills to step in and protect the public,' he said.
Gatwick Airport has reassured passengers that flights are operating as normal following the heavy rain and strong winds. Contingency plans have been put in place at the airport to prepare for any potential flooding.
Debris strewn across Troon beach in Scotland after winds ripped a huge tree from the ground
People emerged from their homes on the Welsh coast this morning to survey the damage caused overnight
Tonnes of sand and gravel has been dumped on the
roadway in Aberystwyth, along with huge chucks of the promenade
pavement and railings
Picture of Britain: After more than a month of
terrible weather, large swathes of the country face serious flood
threats with the majority in central and western England
Warnings: There are currently four severe flood
warnings - indicating a danger to life - as well as 102 lower level
flood warnings and 229 alerts across the UK
Keep up-to-date: Prime Minister David Cameron today urged people to keep up-to-date with the latest weather warnings
Passengers
have been advised to check with their airline before leaving for the
airport and to allow extra journey time in case of delays on roads or
the rail network.The Port of Dover said ships in the Channel were facing gale force five winds which was leading to some delays.
A spokesman said: 'Due to adverse weather conditions the terminal is experiencing slight delays to shipping movements. Passengers are advised to contact their shipping operator for further information.'
Trains have also suffered disruption with services from Newport and Bristol to the south coast affected by the weather.
Rail operator First Great Western was warning passengers that further rain and strong winds forecast for tomorrow afternoon 'may result in further disruption affecting our routes in Devon and Cornwall'.
Weather watchers who ignored warnings to avoid coastal areas during the violent storm surge have been told that they are putting themselves and the emergency services at risk.
Police have been forced from emergency calls to move sightseers who decided to get close to the violent storm surge, putting them at risk of being hit by debris or washed away.
Residents in Chiswell and Portland in Weymouth, Dorset were evacuated ahead of high tide last night, while around 100 people living in Aberystwyth, Dyfed, were advised to move to higher ground, with many taking shelter in rest centres.
People across the UK, from Devon to Cumbria and Sussex, protected their homes with sand bags and flood gates as the waters rose around them.
In London the Thames Barrier will close 1pm as a precaution to protect the capital against flooding, the EA said. It is expected to re-open at 4.30pm.
Sporting fixtures have also been affected. Two of today's FA Cup ties - Charlton Athletic's home tie with Oxford United and Crawley Town's clash with Bristol Rovers - have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches.
Meanwhile horse racing scheduled today at Sandown Park in Surrey and this afternoon's National Hunt meeting at Wincanton Racecourse in Somerset have been abandoned due to a waterlogged tracks.
Leatherhead Football club, pictured, and vast
swathes of the country are under water today after heavy rain battered
southern and western parts. Weather experts have warned conditions are
set to worsen over the weekend, with rain making way for snow in parts
of southern Scotland and northern England
Waterlogged ground, like that at Leatherhead
Football Club, has forced a number of sporting fixtures to called off.
Two FA cup ties and horse racing meetings have fallen victim to the
weather
Flooding on the river Severn in Worcestershire
The River Mole in Leatherhead, Surrey burst its banks over Christmas but
after days of torrential downpours the water level has not yet receded
Weather forecasters have warned conditions are set to worsen over the weekend, with widespread heavy rain on Sunday
DESPITE A MONTH OF SEVERE FLOODS EXPERTS FACE LAY-OFFS
Lay-offs at the Environment Agency will affect the organisation’s ability to cope with flooding, bosses said last night.
More than 550 staff who work in flood risk management could lose their jobs as part of restructuring to save money.
Paul Leinster, the agency’s chief executive, said maintenance work would be hit and new developments would have to be ‘resized’.
‘Flood risk maintenance will be impacted,’ he said.
‘And we’re looking at a proportionate reduction in the number of people in flood risk management.’ The planned staff losses come despite a funding increase from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
A spokesman for the agency downplayed the staffing cuts, adding: ‘Our budget for 2014-15 will be confirmed shortly.
‘However, we are likely to reduce staff numbers from the previous forecast of around 11,250 at the end of March 2014 to around 9,700 by October 2014 dependent on future funding'.
Owen Paterson, Environment Secretary, denied they would cut front line jobs.
More than 550 staff who work in flood risk management could lose their jobs as part of restructuring to save money.
Paul Leinster, the agency’s chief executive, said maintenance work would be hit and new developments would have to be ‘resized’.
‘Flood risk maintenance will be impacted,’ he said.
‘And we’re looking at a proportionate reduction in the number of people in flood risk management.’ The planned staff losses come despite a funding increase from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
A spokesman for the agency downplayed the staffing cuts, adding: ‘Our budget for 2014-15 will be confirmed shortly.
‘However, we are likely to reduce staff numbers from the previous forecast of around 11,250 at the end of March 2014 to around 9,700 by October 2014 dependent on future funding'.
Owen Paterson, Environment Secretary, denied they would cut front line jobs.
High tides and large waves flooded streets in Looe in Cornwall and Salcombe and Kingsbridge in Devon, but the RNLI said it was not as bad as it had expected, the BBC said.
Emergency services rescued four people from a flooded farm in Llanbedr near Barmouth, north west Wales, the River Severn burst its banks in Gloucestershire and a pregnant woman was rescued after 30 properties were flooded in Cardigan, mid-Wales.
Two people have already died in the storms. A 27-year-old man from Surrey was found on Porthleven Sands beach in Cornwall after he was swept out to sea on New Year's Eve night, and a woman died after being rescued from the sea in Croyde Bay, north Devon.
The ferocious weather has left widespread damage. In Aberystwyth debris was strewn across the promenade, rail lines in north Wales were left buckled by the power of the sea and a road collapsed in Amroth, Pembrokeshire.
Experts along the Welsh coast are today assessing the damage, which is expected to run into millions of pounds after seawalls caved in against the mountainous waves.
The university town of Aberystwyth, where Prince Charles studied, bore the brunt of the storm and 150 students had to be evacuated from their accommodation.
Start of term examinations which were due to begin in Monday have been it back a week because of the disruption.
Pro vice-chancellor Rebecca Davies said: 'Waves have pretty much washed away big sections of the promenade.
'Our accommodation is now acting almost as the sea wall.'
Aberystwyth University student Millie Farmer said the town's promenade was a 'complete mess'.
Miss Farmer, a second year geography student, estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage had been done.
'They're starting to clear up. It's a complete mess," said Miss Farmer, 19, who comes from Shepreth, Cambridgeshire.
'You can't see the road. The promenade slabs have been scattered everywhere. It's an extension of the beach.
'It's a real shame. The front was damaged by storms a few weeks ago. They'd only just repaired it. Now it's been ruined again.'
Miss Farmer said seafront properties had been evacuated yesterday and rescue centres set up. She said waves had been 'spectacular'.
'The weather today is nothing like as bad as it was yesterday,' she said. 'But it was still pretty scary this morning. The waves hitting the front were twice as high as me - and I'm not far off six feet.'
A crowd of 200 people ignored warnings and turned up to watch the spectacular waves hitting the sea front in the town during the latest high tide.
But they were kept well back as the giant breakers picked up rocks and debris - throwing them onto the promenade.
More than 100 people spent Friday night in rest centres set up in the Victorian seaside resort.
Several hotels on seafront were flooded during the high tide and many hoteliers fled after the sandbags they put out were washed away.
Richard Griffiths of the Richmond Hotel said: 'Neighbours of mine were standing behind a window which just caved in.
'No one was injured but it just went straight through the building and out into the garden into the back.'
Other coastal roads in West Wales were also hit - with the surfing village of Newgale cut off after the sea wall gave in.
This
morning's high tide caused some localised flooding to Looe and Port
Gaverne in Cornwall but was not as bad as feared. Land's End Airport has
also been closed due to a flooded airfield.
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