by A new rain warning has been issued covering a huge swath of England already affected by flooding as a result of Storm Babet.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for “heavy rain” which could lead to further flooding in the East Midlands, including Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, as well as much of Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Leeds and York and Humberside.
The death toll in the wake of Storm Babette has risen to seven and hundreds of people have been left homeless, with around 1,250 properties in England flooded, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
The death toll rose on Monday afternoon as police recovered the body of a man following inquiries following reports that a man was trapped in a vehicle in floodwaters near Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, on Friday.
Police Scotland said they have not yet been formally identified, but their next of kin have been informed.
An estimated 30,000 properties need protection from rising water levels, the EA said.
A total of 13 areas broke daily rainfall records for October last week, including locations in Suffolk, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, Kincardineshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Northumberland, Derbyshire and Humberside, the Met Office said.
As of Monday afternoon, 107 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, had been issued, along with 111 flood warnings, meaning flooding is possible.
EA spokeswoman Anna Calder said significant effects from river flooding would continue in parts of the Midlands until Friday, with minor effects in parts of the Midlands and north-east England until Wednesday.
Significant river flooding is also possible but not expected in parts of England on Tuesday and Wednesday, with minor impacts possible more widely, due to further heavy rain falling in sensitive catchments.
The Met Office warning, which is in place from 3am to 4pm on Tuesday, said: “There is a slight chance of flooding to homes and businesses, with some buildings damaged.
“There is a small chance of fast flow or deep flooding causing a risk to life.
“There is a small chance that some communities will be cut off by flooded roads.”
The latest warning comes after 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert was found dead in her flooded home in Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on Saturday morning.
Mrs Gilbert's neighbors said 5ft of water had flooded the interior of their properties “within minutes” of the River Rother bursting its banks.
Asked whether flood defenses were adequate, Ms Calder said the EA was “working around the clock with our partners to help reduce this risk”.
He added: “We have put barriers in place to help protect communities as well as use pumps in key locations.”
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf visited Brechin, Angus, where the storm hit hardest, with the River South Esk overflowing its banks and flooding dozens of homes on Monday morning.
During the visit, Mr Yousaf said there would be a “long road to recovery” for those affected by Storm Babette.
He said the local council would get the funding it needed to recover. However, he warned that any cleanup after the floods would likely take time.
A woman who died after being swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk, on Thursday has been named as Wendy Taylor, 57.
Mrs Taylor, who was described as “the beloved wife, best friend and soulmate in George's life, mother to James, Sally and Susanna and grandmother to India and George”, was said to be “a ray of light sunshine for all those who were lucky. enough to know her' in a tribute issued through Police Scotland.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey visited flood-hit Retford in Nottinghamshire on Monday and said residents were asking “why things haven't happened” since the last major floods in 2007.
He told Sky News: “In that time, between 2015 and 2021, we have invested £2.6 billion in flood protection across the country, that's over 300,000 homes. We are part way through a spending program of an additional £5.2 billion over a six-year period.”
Ms Coffey added that it could take “a few months” for some people to return to their homes after the flooding.
He said: “But let's see what we can do to try to speed up some of that and that's why our officials have already been in touch with insurers and the like.”
Derby City Council said water levels have broken records in the River Derwent and warned that the clean-up after the floods could take several days.
Two women have died following a five-vehicle crash on the M4 on Friday morning, which is believed to be weather-related.
Four cars and an HGV were involved in the collision on the eastbound motorway between junction 17 for Chippenham and junction 18 for Bath.
A 56-year-old driver died when a tree fell on his lorry near Forfar in Angus on Thursday, while a 60-year-old man died after being caught in floodwaters in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, on Friday.
Waterside Perth saw a temporary 203.6mm of rain between midnight on Thursday and 6pm on Saturday, Invermark temporarily saw 178.2mm and Charr in Kincardineshire had 183.6mm, according to the Met Office.
The average October rainfall in Angus for October is 124.79mm and is 115.57mm in Kincardineshire.
Unsettled weather will continue this week but “will not be as dramatic as last week”, Met Office spokesman Nicky Maxey said.
He said: “On Monday northern areas will be mostly dry with sunny spells, there will be rain in the South West and Northern Ireland and heavy rain in the Isles of Scilly.”
Tuesday will be mostly dry, but there will be patches of rain pushing northwards throughout the day, although the northwest will likely remain dry, the forecaster added.
