Storm Chandra causes disruption across Devon

School closures and travel chaos across county

Just days after the region was impacted by Storm Ingrid, wetter and windier conditions have made landfall.

The relentless downpours from Storm Chandra have triggered an amber alert for rain and an unprecedented nearly 100 flood warnings across the region, with Devon bearing the brunt of the impact. 

More than 40 schools across the county are either closed or partially closed because of the weather. 

Devon County Council says closures are in place across the region and are updating on their website with details of schools shut or partially closed. 

National Highways is warning people to plan and only travel if necessary, as several major routes are impassable:

A30: Closed in both directions near Exeter Airport because to significant flooding
A303: Closed along the Devon and Somerset border between Upottery and Horton Cross
A35: Flooding has also been reported on the A35 near Dorchester, further complicating travel between the counties
Rail: Coastal services remain suspended, with the vulnerable line at Dawlish once again under fire from massive waves hitting sea defences

Meanwhile, there is significant surface water and areas of flooding on the road network in East and Mid Devon this morning.

Police are asking people in this area to avoid driving unless it is essential, below are the affected roads:

A30: Daisy Mount – Both directions

A30: Closed either end of Honiton

Newton Abbot: Grenhill

Paignton: Dartmouth Road

London Road: Cranbrook Junction at Gribble Lane

A3052: Clyst St Mary, both approach at Cat and Fiddle and approach from Clyst St.George

A377: Impassable at Downes and Newton St. Cyres

A303: Upottery

B3177: Iron Bridge

A382: Wray Barton

A396: Stoke Canon

B3181: Five Bridges, Cullompton

A379: Station Road, Dawlish 

A3052: Boshill Hill

A358: Weycroft Bridge

Flooding near Newton Abbot (image courtesy: Radio Exe listener Jemma)

The Met Office in Exeter upgraded alerts to an Amber warning for rain across southern and eastern Devon but that has since ended. 

The storm has dumped a punishing 40mm to 80mm of rainfall onto ground already saturated by previous systems.

Repair crews were already battling to fix the "floating tarmac" at Torcross following last week’s damage; however, Chandra’s arrival has halted those recovery efforts and forced further closures on vital local arteries.

Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, warned that this cycle of extreme weather is exposing "decades of under-investment" in the county's sea defences and drainage systems.

As the storm continues to move through, council leaders are reiterating their plea for government support to help the region recover from the damage of three consecutive major storms.