Devon braced for Storm Dennis

Devon is bracing itself for another weekend of stormy conditions with the arrival of Storm Dennis this weekend (Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February).

A Yellow Warning for strong winds and rain across the whole of Devon has been issued by the Met Office for most of Saturday and Sunday, with an Amber Warning for heavy rain in the south of the county.

Devon County Council is again urging people to take extra care when travelling on the county's roads.

Wind gusts of up to 70mph are forecast for coastal areas and around 50mph inland. Up to 100mm (around 4 inches) of rain is also possible in some parts of Devon, creating a risk of widespread flooding.

Devon County Council has been working throughout the week to deal with surface water issues caused by torrential downpours. In the early hours of Thursday morning, teams were tackling flood water on the A3052 near the Cat and Fiddle, a tree down on the A377 at Kings Nympton and flooding at Langford Bridge near Honiton.

Additional highways teams are on hand over the weekend to respond to any further disruption to local roads caused by fallen trees and flooding in the coming days.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: "The rain that's forecast for this weekend is expected to be heavier than last weekend so we could well see more flooding problems on Devon's roads. There is still a lot of water around from the amount of rainfall we've had in recent days so it may not take much to start causing surface water issues. Please be aware of any hazards on roads that you may not be expecting and take extra care."

Last weekend, Devon County Council responded to more than 60 reports of trees being uprooted and blown down during Storm Ciara.

Devon County Council is reminding people of the following advice:

• Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with poorer visibility;
• Be alert to fallen trees and branches, particularly on minor roads where they may not have been reported;
• When the wind is at its peak, consider if your journey is really necessary, and be alert to weather warnings;
• Never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don't know how deep it is. Find an alternative route;
• Allow additional time for your journey;
• Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the vehicle in front;
• Drive with care and according to the conditions.

For more information and travel advice from Devon County Council visit www.devon.gov.uk/winter_travel or for updates on Twitter follow @DevonAlert