FLOOD alerts currently in force in Herefordshire have been updated, with the Environment Agency warning the Wye will rise again.

After days of heavy rain across Herefordshire and Mid Wales, the river Wye will start peaking again, with some flood expected.

In its latest update, the Environment Agency said while levels had been falling, they were expected to rise again.

It said the Wye could peak at 3.2 metres at the Old Bridge this evening.

That is lower than the peak of 3.98 metres overnight on Friday, and much lower than record peak of 6.11 metres in February 2020.

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The Environment Agency said river levels were rising at the Hay-on-Wye river gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall.

As a result, it expected flooding to affect low lying land and roads along the river Wye from Hay-on-Wye to Ross-on-Wye.

Other locations that may be affected include the A438 at Letton, Byford, Bredwardine and Hereford, it said.

"River levels downstream of Brewardine have fallen but we are expecting them to rise," it added.

Predicted peaks:

  • Hay-on-Wye 1.9m to 2.0m this afternoon
  • Bredwardine 3.3m to 3.5m this afternoon
  • Belmont 3.4m to 3.6m this evening
  • Old Wye Bridge 3.0m to 3.2 this evening
  • Mordiford 3.2m to 3.4m overnight
  • Ross-on-Wye 2.9m to 3.1m overnight

"We are closely monitoring the situation," the Environment Agency added.

"Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and avoid contact with flood water."

An update was also issued for the flood alert in force for the river Lugg south of Leominster.

"River levels are steady at the Lugwardine river gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall," it said.

"Flooding is continuing. We expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads adjacent to the river Lugg south of Leominster from Stoke Prior to Mordiford.

"Other locations that may be affected include Bodenham, Lugwardine and Hampton Bishop."