DRIVERS are being urged to take extra care with more rain forecast for the weekend.

It comes as the Met Office issue another yellow rain warning covering the whole of Somerset from 5am to midnight tomorrow (Saturday, November 4).

Currently, a number of roads in Somerset remain closed today (Friday, November 3) following Storm Ciaran’s heavy rains and high winds.

Somerset Council’s highways teams responded to more than 140 incidents as the storm swept across the South West on Wednesday into Thursday.

The council was prepared for the extreme weather with teams on standby ready to respond.

Roads still closed as of 4pm today (Friday) are:

  • A37 Ilchester Road heading to Yeovil from the A303 junction.
  • A303 Westbound at Ilchester junction. National Highways report that the A303 will remain closed for at least 24 hours, with a diversion in place.
  • B3081 Charlon Musgrove
  • Several minor roads including Cutts Road, the Muchelney to Langport road and New Road on the Somerset Levels where closure gates are in operation.

There is likely to be some significant surface water elsewhere, particularly in the south of the county and the Levels – drivers are urged to take care.

Remember, 30cm of water is enough to move a car – do not drive through flood water.

River levels remain very high - the Tone has peaked, but rivers in South Somerset and across the Levels are high and a yellow warning is in place on Saturday, with up to 20mm of water expected on already saturated land.

The council has extra crews on standby during Saturday in anticipation of this.

A small number of homes in the county – fewer than 20 - were reported as flooded.

Around 1,300 waste and recycling collections were missed on Thursday. Crews are doing their utmost to return for these today (Friday) wherever access allows. Recycling sites remain open.