Several parts of Swindon experienced flooding after a major thunderstorm hit the town overnight. The storm began on Sunday night, with lightning strikes and thunder continuing into Monday morning. Fire crews were called to a house that had been struck by lightning on Bideford Close in Park North. Fortunately, there was no fire reported in the incident. The Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service had a busy night, responding to multiple calls across the two counties.
The torrential rain resulted in 62mm of rainfall between 1am and 2am, surpassing the average rainfall for September. As a result, the River Ray burst its banks later on Monday. Thames Water confirmed that the river had overflowed near the Swindon and Cricklade Railway. The severe weather conditions also forced several venues in Swindon to close, including the STEAM Museum, West Swindon Library, Kidz About indoor play area, and the Link Centre.
The Link Centre had to shut down on Monday after the electricity supply to the building was cut off due to flooding. GLL, the organization operating the center, mentioned that floodwater overwhelmed the plant room, leading to a power outage and water entering the ground floor. Specialist electrical engineers were called to assess the situation and make the electricity supply safe before the water could be pumped out and the damage assessed.
In addition to venue closures, bus routes operated by Swindon Bus Company and Stagecoach were diverted due to the flooded roads. However, the Swindon Borough Council assured the public that services were running as normal, and excess surface water was receding across the borough.
Sources:
– Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
– Thames Water
– GLL