Tuesday, 27th. January 2026

Yet another storm hits us in south Devon. After yesterday’s heavy rain – all evening and pretty much all through the night – it was dry and, briefly, sunny this morning. Whilst I was turning the bedclothes back we were treated to heavy sleet, with hail-stones smashing into the fishpond just outside my bedroom window. I doubt the fish like it, but how would I know?

The fish pond is as full as it has ever been. I suspect rivers in south Devon will have expanded into their ‘flood’ plains. Strange how we use that term – flood plain – and yet still think it is okay to build houses on them. Some Devon schools are closed and, near me, Bovey Tracy is partially flooded and many roads are closed. Trains are running through Newton Abbot but fewer than usual. The situation is likely to become worse during today and tomorrow as water runs off Dartmoor and into the major rivers here – the Teign, Dart and Exe.

Good news: what do you call hydro-power that requires no mountains or high hills, no dam and no reservoir? A high-density hydro-electric plant! The first of its kind has just started generating electricity just outside Plymouth – only enough power for 400 homes but it’s a start!