Yet another storm battered southern parts of the United Kingdom on Friday, with winds up to 80 mph and heavy rain. Based on satellite imagery, this storm is drawing in moisture from the same storm system that dumped heavy snow and ice across the eastern half of the U.S. this week. The storms appear to be swirling arm-in-arm across the Atlantic.
The new storm is aggravating the devastating flooding, which came on the heels of the wettest January in the UK since records began in 1766. The UK Met Office, which is the British equivalent of the U.S. National Weather Service, issued a report on Feb. 12 that linked the extreme weather this winter in part to manmade global warming, since a warming climate increases the odds of heavy precipitation events.
See also: Why This Winter Storm Blows Other 2014 Storms Away
The Thames River burst its banks on Monday, flooding towns upstream of London. The Thames Barrier, which was built to shield downtown London from storm surge-related flooding, prevented widespread devastation in the densely populated city.
The UK Environment Agency, which has been harshly criticized by many in Great Britain for its bungled response to the flooding, warned that water levels are likely to rise again on the Thames, which recorded some of its highest levels for 60 years, and Severn rivers. According to the agency, teams are working to remove blockages from rivers and deploying sandbags and temporary defenses. Authorities also tapped Sweden and the Netherlands for additional flood defenses.
About 5,800 properties are now under water as a result of the series of storms that have plagued the area since early December.
A tourist information sign is surrounded by flood water on Feb. 12, 2014 in Worcester, England. The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for dozens of areas along the River Severn. With heavier rains forecast for the coming week people are preparing for the water levels to rise.
A resident pushes her bike through flood water on Feb. 13, 2014 in Staines-Upon-Thames, England. Flood water has remained high in some areas and high winds are causing disruption to other parts of the U.K.
Water floods a row of terrace houses along the banks of the River Severn on Feb. 12, 2014 in Worcester, England.
A statue is submerged in flood water in the garden of a house on Diglis Avenue on Feb. 12, 2014 in Worcester, England.
A local resident smokes a cigarette on the doorstep of his flood affected house where a boat is moored in Egham on Feb. 12, 2014. Flooded communities in Britain faced a fresh battering from storms and high winds, with hundreds more homes threatened by the advancing waters.
Flood water surrounds housing on Feb. 13, 2014 in Staines-Upon-Thames, England.
Penton Hook Weir is surrounded by debris as the river Thames levels remain high on Feb. 13, 2014 in Staines-Upon-Thames, England.
Members of the Bill family, carrying groceries, return to their house through the flooded part of the town of Staines-upon-Thames, England, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. Prime Minister David Cameron insisted on Feb. 11 that money is no object in the battle against the widespread flooding that has engulfed parts of England. Canceling a visit to the Middle East to oversee flood-fighting efforts, he told journalists that "whatever money is needed for this relief effort will be spent" as Britain deals with some of its wettest weather in 250 years.
Floodwater is pumped out from flooded properties in the village of Chertsey, Southwest of London, on Feb. 13, 2014. Hurricane-force winds from an Atlantic storm left tens of thousands of Britons without power Thursday and one man dead, adding to the misery after devastating floods caused by the wettest winter in 250 years.
A local resident pushes belongings on a cart through the flooded part of the town of Staines-upon-Thames, England, as a police van patrols the area on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014.