07:43AM, Friday 16 September 2016
Photo by Dan Monroe
A major clear-up operation is underway after last night's storms caused flooding throughout Maidenhead.
The rain forced early morning road closures in Norreys Drive, Wootton Way, Queen Street, Braywick Road and part of the High Street and also affected parts of the M40 and M4.
Thames Valley Police is working with the fire service and Highways England to respond to the flooding.
Motorists are being advised to only make essential journeys, observe road closures, and avoid driving through flood water.
3.25pm:
The roads are back to normal in Maidenhead but road closures remain in place at junction 8 of the M4 westbound.
Highways England is reporting hour-and-a-half tailbacks going as far back as junction 5, with normal traffic conditions not expected until at least 8.15pm.
All roads around Maidenhead Town centre have now been reopened. There will be further work carried out from Monday to finish repairs. #C9900
— TVP Maidenhead (@TVP_Maidenhead) September 16, 2016
2.55pm:
Maidenhead High Street has now reopened.
And just like that #Maidenhead High Street is fixed and open in time for rush hour @MaidenheadAds @EnjoyMaidenhead pic.twitter.com/D7LzcMWeNZ
— RBWM (@RBWM) September 16, 2016
1.04pm:
The Kindness Shop in King Street is in need of urgent donations.
The shop lost a huge amount of clothing due to the floods and is looking for donated clothing including t-shirts, warm jumpers, fleeces and trousers.
Donations are to be dropped at the shop from Monday to Friday from 10am-noon next week.
The shop is closed today (Friday) due to the floods.
11.32am:
We've heard Silco Drive, off Grenfell Road, is also flooded.
11.29am:
Our teams are out clearing up the roads. #Maidenhead. @MaidenheadAds. pic.twitter.com/pW4c1F8Fvb
— RBWM (@RBWM) September 16, 2016
11.28am:
Not good news for the Kindness Shop.
@GraceW_BM Weather story: The Kindness Shop's a victim to the overnight rain. It's now under an inch of water. Still assessing damage.
— Steven Beaven (@stevenbeaven) September 16, 2016
10.53am:
There are still problems on the M4.
@MaidenheadAds Drivers. Avoid M4 Slough to Maidenhead flooding at the Maidenhead junction traffic being taken off and back on at Jct 8/9
— graham edwards (@hairytatties) September 16, 2016
10.22am:
Take care if you are heading along the M40.
#M40 still V slow between J7 & J4 - #A40 through Stokenchurch & Wycombe is also V Slow! - Lane closed J5>J4 due to flooding #tvpfloods
— TVP Roads Policing (@tvprp) September 16, 2016
10.09am:
This is the situation at the Nicholsons Centre:
@NicholsonsSC Most stores are open this morning, except Clarks and Dorothy Perkins who will open as soon as they are able.
— Nicholsons Centre (@NicholsonsSC) September 16, 2016
9.54am:
At least Wilko is well stocked in mops (photo by Mark Spencer-Smith)
9.50am:
The last 24 hours have been the second wettest on local record since 1942.
A total of 72.2mm of rainfall fell in Maidenhead between 10am on Thursday and 8.25am today.
Since 1942, only one day has seen more rainfall, when Hurley recorded 75.2mm fall in August 1969.
Dr Roger Brugge, a local meteorologist who provided the data, said the warm continental air that provided one of the hottest September days this week was meeting ‘shallow air’ of low pressure and creating thunderstorms.
He added that when the two air types met, there was an 8*C drop in 30 minutes during the evening.
9.49am:
A lot of people hard at work clearing up.
Our Highways team have been out since 3am and are clearing up after the storm. They are working hard to reopen roads in #Maidenhead.
— RBWM (@RBWM) September 16, 2016
9.46am:
Some pictures from our chief photographer Matthew Phillips:
9.42am:
It is not just Maidenhead that is affected. This is Bourne End heading towards Cookham Bridge.
9.41am:
Tesco Metro and Wilko's both remain closed at the moment.
9.40am:
After the bad weather the phone lines at Maidenhead Library are not working. Please call Windsor Library on 01753 743940 for assistance.
— RBWM (@RBWM) September 16, 2016
9.38am:
Bad news Bear.
Unfortunately due to the bad weather, The Bear is not open for business as of yet. We are working very hard to... https://t.co/aNxiMxPt5p
— The Bear (@BearMaidenhead) September 16, 2016
9.37am:
Not looking good on the motorway...
#M4 now closed W/B at J8 #Maidenhead with divert over jcn via exit and entry slips to clear flooding under bridge. pic.twitter.com/iAIk4roj1R
— Highways England (@HighwaysEAST) September 16, 2016
9.32am:
Some updates from our readers:
@MaidenheadAds I missed 3 trains as I was stuck in traffic driving to the station! Drive safe everyone - it's a bit of a mess out there.
— Natasha (@Natasha_D1) September 16, 2016
@MaidenheadAds big flood under the motorway bridge on cannon lane just after the junction with Altwood Road
— Lucy Crowhurst (@CrowhurstLucy) September 16, 2016
9.27am:
Some photos by our editor Martin Trepte. It's a mess out there.
9.25am:
We've heard Wilko's, WHSmith and Tesco have all experienced flooding this morning.
9.22am:
Looks like it might be wise to avoid the Nicholsons car park.
9.11am:
No home fixture for Maidenhead United this weekend, which is probably for the best.
Where's the ducks pic.twitter.com/RGDNAv1Oj5
— Jason Stewart (@stewj001) September 16, 2016
9.08am:
It's a big day if you're a traffic cone.
Pavement and road damaged by rain in High Street and West Street subway flooded. pic.twitter.com/YACB5r1ASC
— Martin Trepte (@MartinTrepte) September 16, 2016
9.04am:
Update from the council, complete with a clever GIF.
The rain waters are starting to subside but parts of Maidenhead town centre remain closed due to water damage pic.twitter.com/II058r4ipg
— RBWM (@RBWM) September 16, 2016
8.57am:
We understand the fire service was called out to quite a few incidents last night. More online soon.
Really busy night for fire service in #Maidenhead. Pumping out to assist business continuity pic.twitter.com/HfWwqVHZo6
— Maidenhead Fire Stn (@MaidenheadFS) September 16, 2016
8.56am:
Collapsed paving caused by the heavy rain in the High Street. pic.twitter.com/1HJq92Nj9u
— Martin Trepte (@MartinTrepte) September 16, 2016
8.48am:
Meanwhile, at 'Tiser Towers...
Thank heavens for newspapers - you can't do this with an iPad. pic.twitter.com/1hpUstAmB7
— Martin Trepte (@MartinTrepte) September 16, 2016
8.46am:
Maidenhead, it's not in Kent.
We really should have run that @MaidenheadAds campaign. pic.twitter.com/R3IQp2wJ1W
— Nicola Hine (@nicola_hine) September 16, 2016
8.39am:
Just a reminder that a number of road closures are still in place after last night's storms.
@MaidenheadAds pic.twitter.com/RXVRyN6C5h
— Pete Dunsford (@DunsfordDJ) September 16, 2016
8.35am:
Maidenhead High Street is in a bit of a mess down near the St Ives Road junction. Closed to traffic. @MaidenheadAds pic.twitter.com/a8GlwIt7In
— Nicola Hine (@nicola_hine) September 16, 2016
8.29am:
@MaidenheadAds flooding on Maidenhead High Street, paths and drains have been heavily damaged. pic.twitter.com/3GJSBcGoh8
— Dan Monroe (@Thedandedan) September 16, 2016
8.27am:
This was the scene this morning.
@MaidenheadAds flooding on Maidenhead High Street, paths and drains have been heavily damaged. pic.twitter.com/3GJSBcGoh8
— Dan Monroe (@Thedandedan) September 16, 2016
8.24am:
Maidenhead High Street shut to traffic at Queen Street/Broadway junction @MaidenheadAds pic.twitter.com/dv4jCfjHff
— Nicola Hine (@nicola_hine) September 16, 2016
8.21am:
The westbound entry slip at junction 8 of the M4 is closed due to the flooding. Highways England says disruption is expected to continue until 10.45am-11am.
8.16am:
The heavy rain has also caused delays and cancellations to some railway services. More details are available here.
8.06am:
The West Street underpass and St Mary's Walk are also closed and bus services are affected.
UPDATE: Services in Maidenhead unable to serve High Street at present. Please use Frascati Way or Queens Street. Due to heavy flooding.
— Courtney (@courtneybuses) September 16, 2016
Comments
Share your opinions on
comment
Pursuer
11:53, 16 September 2016
Yes rain does fall heavily at times- hence the nonsense of Borough operatives regularly blowing leaves,refuse and other detritus into the gutters awaiting sweeping by road cleaning vehicles, which may or may not come along. Significant amounts of, largely, straw litter on the A4 in particular West of Maidenhead, and its side roads are still blocking and/or restricting gutter drains. The straw is deposited in substantial amounts every year from farmers uncovered bales of straw hauled along public roads by their trailers, and whilst some is subsequently swept up, at ratepayers expense no doubt, significant amounts remain. Thus hardly surprising the flooding occurs.
Editor's Picks
Most read
Top Ten Articles
A walker has hit out at Eton College’s ‘extreme’ decision to close Dorney Lake to the public until further notice.
A woman has died on the tracks near Burnham Railway Station, transport police have confirmed.