DORSET was mopping up today after being battered again by fierce winds and heavy rain which caused new year chaos in the county.

And there’s no end in sight as further extreme conditions are forecast in the coming days.

The A353 Preston Beach Road in Weymouth will be temporarily shut on Friday just before high tides - at 7am and again around 5.45pm - in case of flooding. These times may change.

The road is being closed because of a 'severe flood warning' - the highest category of warning - indicating a danger to life and property.

A diversion will be in place via Littlemoor while the A353 is closed.

Residents in the Preston Beach area are not being asked to evacuate at this time however the situation is being closely monitored. Occupants should be prepared to evacuate at short notice, says Dorset Police.

Weymouth Esplanade, Chiswell on Portland and West Bay harbour are not subject to flood warnings however they are being closely monitored.

Occupants of properties at risk of flooding who have concerns or are unsure what to do should contact the Environment Agency on 0845 988 1188 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk

This morning there was flooding on the A35 near the football ground roundabout at Dorchester and the West Stafford Bypass is closed.

Fire crews in North Dorset had to rescue a woman from her car last night after it got stuck in floodwater near Marnhull.

The Environment Agency has said the unsettled weather will continue.

A combination of high tides and gale-force south westerly winds will increase the risk of coastal flooding from tomorrow into the weekend.

Head of flood incident management Craig Woolhouse said: “Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline.”

Yesterday’s wild weather brought down trees, flooded roads and put communities on alert against a risk of river and surface water flooding.

It meant a wet and miserable start for 2014 following new year celebrations.

Flooded roads included the West Stafford bypass, the coast road at Abbotsbury and the A352 near Wool.

Residents at Burton Bradstock said river levels were high and Burton Road was flooded near the sewage works.

Emergency services continued to warn motorists of hazardous conditions including the risks of driving through floodwater.

Portland Coastguard ops room was busy in the afternoon issuing warnings.

A spokesman said flood alerts were in place along the coast for last night after high tide, including for Weymouth Harbour and along the River Wey, as well as close to the Sea Life Centre at Preston, West Bay Harbour and West Dorset rivers.

Trains on the Weymouth-Waterloo line were subject to delays because of flooding up the line.

The weather played havoc with new year events including sporting fixtures although torrential rain and howling winds didn’t deter those taking part in the traditional Lyme Lunge at Lyme Regis.

The Met Office has warned of strong winds tomorrow and said that coupled with high tides it could cause coastal flooding.

A spokesman said: “A developing Atlantic low pressure system is expected to move north-eastwards on Friday.

“This will push further bands of locally heavy rain across the UK and winds will gust to around 50-60mph over coasts and hills.”

He added: “Whilst this is not especially strong, lowering pressure will combine with high tides around the coastline and bring the risk of some flooding.”

Jacques Steventon from Dorset Live Weather said temperatures were mild for this time of year despite the increased risk of flooding but that it wasn’t a good start to 2014.

Meanwhile, Weymouth weatherman Bob Poots said that December 2013 and December 2012 had been the wettest for 24 years.

He said 2013 had been a wet year, adding: “The 2013 total rainfall was 869.2mm – 124.4mm above the annual average.”

* The Environment Agency is warning coastal communities in Dorset to remain vigilant as strong winds combine with high tides tomorrow and continue into the weekend.

The stormy conditions are likely to cause wave ‘over-topping’ around the coast increasing the risk of flooding to properties and low lying land. Tides will peak on Friday.

Environment Agency teams will be working around the clock to check flood defences and close tidal gates.

High winds combined with spring tides will result in dramatic waves.

People can stay safe by keeping away from seafronts and promenades when waves and winds are high.

For travel and weather update see dorsetecho.co.uk

In high winds Dorset Police advise motorists:
• Not to travel unless you have to
• Keep your distance from other vehicles
• Keep your speed down – sudden gusts of wind can blow you off course
• Leave extra time to get to your destination
• Show consideration for other motorists, especially when confronted with delays and/or blocked roads
• When visibility is reduced switch on your headlights.

In the event of flooding, drivers are advised to:
• Exercise caution when approaching standing water on the roads
• Give consideration to the depth of the water
• Do not take any risks driving through flood waters
• Drive through shallow water slowly and be aware of the effect of waves on other road users.