Angela

Hi everyone

My parents are driving from Southampton to Holyhead today, and I note that there have been weather warnings in this area, and risks of flooding.

Is there any way for me to check if any roads are closed on this route, or how bad are things there?

Many thanks

Angela

Steve_James

Hi Angela - Here's a good place to start

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6907316.stm

Steve

hetismij

Try the AA: http://tinyurl.com/293ms or the BBC -www.BBC.co.uk, click on travel updates.
We are due heavy rain too so I am keeping an eye on things. You can see up to date rader pictures at http://tinyurl.com/2g22y3

Angela

Thanks so much for the quick replies. These websites are exactly what I was after.

Thanks again

Angela

Alec

That's an awfully long drive, on the first evening of school holidays. The normal route is M3, M25, M40, M6, M56 and A55. As it's motorway and dual carriageway all the way, I don't expect any road closures, though congestion is inevitable anywhere along the route, esp around M25, near Birmingham, M6 in Cheshire and finally the loop around Chester.
It's around 313 miles, normal driving time is around 5 hours but should allow 6-7 hours, including a stop.

hetismij

I would go A34 to the M40 myself, seems a long way round to do M3, M25. And they could use the toll part of the M6 as well which is quiter. Anyway I hope they make it OK! It is pouring down here at the moment. Serious monsoon like rain. Bah am fed up with this non summer!

Gordon_R

The rain today has been terrible (up to 2 month's normal rainfall in one day), and... it's a Friday, and... it's the first day of school holidays in England.

I've been listening to the BBC local radio traffic bulletins all day. The situation is bleak, with traffic at a virtual standstill on many of the major roads and motorways, M25, M4, M40 and M42 particularly bad. Your folks will get there eventually but it will be a tough trip. Sorry, but there it is...

Frances

I have just crossed Anglesey from Holyhead and the road is completely clear with no problems

willit

I hope they make (have made) it. The rain has been awful and there have been reports of flooding on the A34 and M4. Newbury was apparently impassable for some time today.

At least they were not reliant on public transport - Many trains have been cancelled, many passengers are still stranded on immobile trains. Most services west of Reading have been suspended.

janisj

I was wondering if they made it as well. The reports in the Telegraph look REALLY grim w/ most routes across the south and southern midlands either flooded or extremely congested. Oxfordshite and Gloustershire apparently very hard hit w/ nearly 5 inches of rain at Brize Norton.

Frances: from what I'm reading (and being tousands of miles away it is hard to know for sure) the problem wouldn't be in NW Wales - but in getting there from the south coast. There are advisories to not travel (by car or train) unless absolutely necessary.

BTilke

Maidenhead was one of the hardest hit areas for this bout of flooding, but our particular neighborhood was fine. We know the area that was particularly hard hit quite well and feel very sorry for the residents...they are miles from the Thames and not along any canals, lakes, etc., so I don't think they were prepared for the severity of the flooding. The High Street/downtown shopping center was closed due to some flooding.

Public transport is a mess as all service to MH train station (and the general Paddington-Reading/Oxford commuter corridor) was shut down this afternoon. The roads around the train station were heavily flooded as well.

My husband had planned to go into London today, but I'd been following the forecasts and talked him out of it. He's so glad he stayed home. Our Internet service was up and down, our landline phone service also was dodgy today, but other than that, we got lucky. Actually, the heavy rains in MH ended a little earlier than expected. It's windy and quite cool at the moment.

hetismij

Angela - did they make it? Or did they end up staying a cold wet night in their car???

Angela

Sorry, I have been away for the weekend and didnt get to see the rest of the replies.

They made it! I don't the details yet, will let you know, but they made it home safe and sound.

Thank you so much for all the help and well wishes.

Angela