A man died last night when his car got stuck in floodwater. The man was rescued from his car by a fire and rescue crew in Chew Stoke - but he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Rescue services were called to Pilgrims Way in Chew Stoke at about 9pm to find the man submerged in flood water. Members of Avon Fire and Rescue Service's Swift Water Rescue team, which is based at Bedminster station, went into the water and removed the man from his vehicle. Bristol is bracing itself for a further battering by Mother Nature over the weekend.
After torrential downpours caused floods, high winds brought down trees and traffic ground to a standstill, Met Office forecasters are predicting more heavy rain and gales for the weekend and Monday in the Bristol area.
With many places already saturated, this could cause more flooding on some roads and low-lying areas near rivers and watercourses.
The strong winds of yesterday – gusting at more than 40mph – were due to die down today before returning on Saturday.
Sunday is expected to be drier before the bad weather returns on Monday.
In four hours yesterday evening, Avon Fire and Rescue Service received 30 calls about flooding, with Keynsham particularly hard hit.
They had ten reports of fallen trees and damage to property caused by the wind and three calls from people stuck in cars in North Somerset.
Fire and rescue service spokesman Darren Bane said a stricken van driver in Pensford found himself stuck in 4ft of water and had to be rescued. A total of 60 roads were closed in North Somerset.
In Bristol, overflowing drains caused flooding on Whiteladies Road, St Augustine's Parade and Baldwin Street among others.
Police are urging motorists to take extra care and only make journeys if they are necessary. Drivers are also advised to stick to main roads wherever possible.
A police spokesman added: "Members of the public should also avoid going to look at flooded areas.
"Floodwater can rise quickly and trap you and this can disrupt the efforts of the emergency services, who anticipate being fully stretched, will be responding to priority calls where life is threatened."
A gust of wind snapped a tree at its trunk on Henleaze Road yesterday afternoon, causing it to fall onto the road as a double-decker bus approached. No one was injured and the tree was later cut into pieces with chainsaws.
Sports photographer Rogan Thomson, who lives on Southmead Road and was driving the opposite way, stopped and took a picture.
The 25-year-old said: "I didn't see the tree fall but I was there not long afterwards.
"The traffic had stopped and people were getting off the bus.
"The road was closed for about 30 to 40 minutes while they cut up the tree and cleared everything up."
The Environment Agency has maintained flood warnings on the River Frome from Nibley to upstream of Stapleton, including Frampton Cotterell and Frenchay.
The Congresbury Yeo from Wrington to Congresbury is also still liable to flood, as is Winford Brook at Chew Magna, and the River Chew from Chew Stoke to Keynsham.
Rail passengers have been warned to expect further cancellations and delays.
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