Flood alerts with further storms to hit and snow expected
[gallery] Flood barriers were being installed along the River Severn at Bewdley today as the West Midlands was bracing itself for another soaking with yet more stormy conditions forecast.
Heavy rain and bitter 50mph winds are set to spread in from the west, bringing further risk of flooding. As a result the authorities were today continuing to monitor the River Severn.
This morning the Environment Agency began work on the barriers at Severn Side North and South in Bewdley where the river level was11ft. Normally the level is anywhere up to 10ft.
In Ironbridge, part of the village was closed off as flood defences were put up alongside the river. A full flood warning, with the river already more than 13ft above normal summer level, is in place.
Today there was a light dusting of snow in Cannock, Stafford, Dudley, West Bromwich and Birmingham.
Dozens of people took to Twitter to talk of the weather.
The rain could mean more misery for residents in Somerset and Kent already deluged with flood water. Those living on the Somerset Levels have described 'Third World' conditions, but Prime Minister David Cameron pledged more rapid action to tackle the problem.
Soldiers were being deployed to Somerset today in a bid to help villages cut off by the floodsas it was revealed that parts of the south saw the wettest January since 1910. The Met Office statistics show parts of the south have received more than twice their average rainfall with 175.2mm between January 1 and 28.
