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MOTHER Nature still has plenty of rain to throw Hampshire’s way over the next few days as the region is warned to brace itself for further flooding.

The Environment Agency is warning communities across the South East that more flooding is likely as river levels continue to respond to recent rainfall, and more rain and stormy weather is expected this week.

Communities are being urged to remain vigilant to the threats of river, coastal and groundwater flooding caused by more rain falling on saturated ground and increasing already high river levels.

There are currently 14 severe warnings, 60 flood warnings and 118 flood alerts in place across the South East, including flood warnings for Itchen, Test and Meon rivers in the county.

So far, 400 properties have been reported as flooded across the South East.

Significant groundwater flooding is expected in the coming days in Hampshire, Surrey, Kent and parts of London. Local authorities will work with utility companies to respond to these incidents.

Daily Echo:

Caroline Douglass, from the Environment Agency, said: “This is already the wettest January England has experienced since 1766, and we are moving towards December, January and February being the wettest winter in 250 years. Looking ahead at the rest of this week, the end is not yet in sight.

“Unfortunately, we cannot prevent flooding altogether so I would urge the public to check if they live or work in a flood risk area, sign up to our receive free flood warnings if they do, and keep up to date with the latest situation on the Environment Agency website.”

The Met Office has put into force several yellow and orange warnings for both wind and rain during the rest of the week, with the first coming into effect this morning.

Rain is expected for most of today, resulting in yellow warnings between 3am and 3pm.

There is no real let up in the rain into Wednesday either, with more yellow warnings for heavy rain between 12pm and midnight, on top of strong winds up to 51mph, causing the Met Office to issue an Orange warning for Hampshire.

Thursday promises more of the same, although the afternoon may