Timeline of the Leamington floods: What happened on April 9 1998

We are looking back to the Leamington floods which took place on and around this day 20 years ago.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2018, 13:51 BST
Updated 9th Apr 2018, 14:56 BST
The Day that the Rain Came. Photo of the flooding of Leamington in April 1998 by Yvonne and Geoff Brown of Manor Court.The Day that the Rain Came. Photo of the flooding of Leamington in April 1998 by Yvonne and Geoff Brown of Manor Court.
The Day that the Rain Came. Photo of the flooding of Leamington in April 1998 by Yvonne and Geoff Brown of Manor Court.

Here is a timeline of the first day of the flooding - April 9 1998.

* One month’s rain fall in just 12 hours as severe weather moves into the district. Warnings of more severe weather to come.

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* Afternoon: River Leam put on Yellow Alert. Evening: Roads become impassable due to flash floods. The worst affected are the M40, A46, A429 and A425.

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Image from the Leamington Courier in April 1998.Image from the Leamington Courier in April 1998.
Image from the Leamington Courier in April 1998.

* River Leam on Amber Alert. County Council decides to put emergency planning procedures into action. The task of prioritising starts.

* 6pm onwards: Water levels rise in the villages. Long Itchington, Southam, Eathorpe and Marton among the worst affected. Motorists divert from stretches of the M40 and A46. Many trapped in villages overnight.

* Emergency services rescue drivers trapped in cars and homes. Military helicopters, Red Cross and St John Ambulance called in to help. Rest centres set up in towns and villages for 1,200 stranded people.

* By midnight all rivers in South Warwickshire are on Red Alert

Related topics:LeamingtonM40