The Thames Barrier is being closed for the 200th time after a number of flood warnings were put in place in southern England as Storm Aurore moves in.

The flooding defence system will close to protect around 640,000 properties in London as a result of winds mixing with the tides and heavy rainfall.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “While the barrier will help to protect London from tidal flooding, there are also risks from flooding along the east coast on Thursday and Friday.

“Heavy rain also means that there is a separate but concurrent risk of river flooding across the south of England.”

It will reopen later on Thursday.

Southern England was hit by flooding overnight due to heavy rain and strong winds moving in from France, with the Met Office issuing yellow rain warnings – threatening delays to transport and issues with power supply.

In Essex, the fire service said it had received more than 120 calls up to 2.30am on Thursday to help with flood-related incidents as rain battered the county.

UK weather: Hottest September day for Scotland since 1906 – but forecasters warn thunderstorms are on the way

UK weather: Temperatures hit 30C as parts of England and Wales bask in September sunshine

REVISITED: Climate crisis – Is India’s Himalayan disaster a sign of things to come?

As well as rain warnings, the Environment Agency has also issued flooding warnings across the South West, East Anglia and Surrey, meaning that flooding is expected in those areas.

Storm Aurore, a low pressure system, has moved in off the continent and brought up to 50mm of rainfall and 45mph winds with it.

The Met Office says the wet weather will continue on Thursday throughout the south of England, as well as it being much cooler.

Gales are also expected in North Sea coastal areas.

Thursday night will see “showers for northern and western areas, whilst eastern and southern areas will have fewer showers and more in the way of clear spells, remaining breezy”, the Met Office added.

Related posts:

Philip leaves behind personal legacy Virgin Atlantic boss expecting increased demand for air travel in coming months Chances of finding missing girl’s body in Gloucester cafe ‘unlikely’ says former West solicitor Government ‘truly sorry’ for events at Ballymurphy where 10 innocent people killed RSPCA rescues 1p-sized baby mouse after cat captures its mother UK cancels deal with French firm for tens of millions of COVID jabs Man in his 70s dies after hot tub falls from crane, Sky News understands Body of British woman swept away by Tonga tsunami found Govt to undertake review of BBC’s funding model as licence fee frozen for two years Missing teen Marnie Clayton found ‘safe and well’ in Hampshire as Reading man arrested ‘I don’t recognise this caricature’: Raab denies Downing Street has drinking culture ‘Happy, fun and brilliant’ 12-year-old named after fatal car crash