Commuters and holidaymakers bound for the southwest of England are facing long delays after a key stretch of the M5 southbound was shut for hours on Wednesday following severe flooding triggered by Storm Chandra and a crash the previous evening.

The closure, affecting traffic between junction 28 for Cullompton and junction 29 for Exeter in Devon, has created major disruption for drivers heading toward Exeter, Plymouth and Cornwall, with lengthy queues and knock-on gridlock on surrounding rural roads.

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Crash and Sudden Flooding Force Overnight Shutdown

The problems began on Tuesday night when a vehicle collided with the central reservation on the southbound M5 near Exeter, prompting a rapid response from emergency services. Devon and Cornwall Police, fire crews and paramedics attended the scene and initially treated the incident as a conventional motorway collision, working to recover the vehicle and make the carriageway safe.

As recovery progressed, conditions deteriorated sharply. Bands of torrential rain associated with Storm Chandra swept across Devon, overwhelming roadside drainage and sending large volumes of water cascading onto the motorway surface. Within a short period, standing water built up to levels that made travel increasingly hazardous, even for high-sided vehicles and heavy goods lorries.

National Highways closed the southbound carriageway between junctions 28 and 29 late on Tuesday evening on safety grounds, citing both the aftermath of the collision and what they described as “significant flooding” across multiple lanes. While the crash itself was cleared, engineers and contractors were left grappling overnight with floodwater, debris and potential damage to the carriageway and safety barriers.

Morning Rush Hour Brings Long Queues and Widespread Gridlock

By the Wednesday morning commute, the impact of the closure was being felt across a wide area of Devon. Southbound traffic was being diverted off the M5 at junction 28 and onto local routes running broadly parallel to the motorway. These country roads, many of them single-carriageway and already slick from relentless rain, quickly became saturated with diverted vehicles.

Reports from local media described queues stretching back towards junction 27 for Tiverton, with slow-moving traffic adding at least 30 to 60 minutes to journey times for many motorists. Buses and coaches were caught in the disruption, creating headaches for commuters trying to get to work in Exeter and for passengers connecting to rail services at Exeter St Davids and Exeter Central stations.

Traffic cameras showed tailbacks of dense traffic, with lorries and caravans inching forward along diversion routes and into the outskirts of towns and villages not designed to handle motorway-level volumes. Residents reported heavy congestion on local high streets as satnavs redirected drivers through already-flooded minor roads.

Storm Chandra Intensifies Weather and Flood Risks

The closure comes amid a broader wave of severe weather affecting large parts of the United Kingdom, as Storm Chandra delivers record-breaking rainfall and strong winds. Meteorologists reported particularly intense downpours across Devon, Somerset and Dorset, with some locations recording more than a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours.

The Met Office issued weather warnings for heavy rain, flooding and later ice, warning that fast-flowing or deep floodwater posed a potential danger to life in parts of the southwest and along exposed coastal stretches. Emergency services across the region have been dealing with flooded homes, stranded vehicles and landslip risks on saturated hillsides.

In Devon, the same band of relentless rain that swamped the M5 also affected the A30, a major east west route linking Exeter with Cornwall. Local reports indicated that sections of the A30 were closed or partially blocked by flooding, complicating efforts by motorists to find alternative routes and putting further strain on an already stressed road network.

National Highways and Police Urge Drivers to Rethink Travel Plans

National Highways and Devon and Cornwall Police have both urged motorists to consider delaying non-essential journeys or seeking alternative modes of transport where possible. Officials warned that conditions on the diversion routes may change quickly as rain continues, with increased risks of surface water, aquaplaning and sudden standing water, particularly in low-lying rural areas.

Drivers who must travel are being advised to reduce speed significantly, leave extra stopping distance, and avoid driving through floodwater of unknown depth. Breakdown and rescue organisations have repeatedly highlighted the danger of attempting to cross submerged sections of road, where hidden hazards such as dislodged manhole covers and submerged debris can pose serious risks.

Travel organisations, including rail and coach operators, were advising passengers on Wednesday to check the latest service updates before setting out. While mainline rail services into Exeter remained operational, adverse weather and potential flooding on lines in the wider region raised the prospect of delays and last-minute changes to timetables.

Tourism and Local Businesses Brace for Disruption

The southwest of England is one of the country’s most popular regions for domestic tourism, drawing visitors year-round to destinations such as Exeter, the Exe Estuary, Dartmoor, Torbay and the North Devon and Cornish coasts. Although the current disruption falls outside the summer peak, many hotels, guesthouses and holiday parks reported cancellations and late arrivals as the motorway chaos unfolded.

Travel and hospitality businesses in Exeter and surrounding towns said they were bracing for a difficult few days, particularly if conditions on the M5 and A30 remain unstable. Some guests have been forced to divert via longer inland routes or postpone trips altogether, while delivery drivers face extended journeys to reach remote coastal communities.

Local tourism boards are expected to monitor the situation closely and issue guidance to visitors on the safest routes and contingency plans. With additional rain and wintery conditions forecast in the days ahead, the region’s visitor economy is likely to feel the ripple effects well beyond the immediate closure period, as travellers weigh up whether to proceed with planned breaks.

Knock On Effects Across the Wider Motorway Network

The severe disruption on the M5 southbound comes at a time when several other key motorways and trunk roads are also facing weather related or incident related issues. In Greater Manchester, drivers on the M60 encountered major delays on Wednesday morning due to multiple crashes that closed lanes and led to queues stretching for miles, underlining the fragility of the road network during adverse conditions.

In recent years, sections of the M5 have seen a series of serious incidents, from multi vehicle collisions to weather related closures and police led events, each triggering prolonged shutdowns and extensive diversions. The combination of heavy freight traffic, long distance holiday journeys and increasingly volatile weather patterns has turned the motorway into a recurring pinch point for national travel.

Transport analysts note that when a strategic arterial route like the M5 is shut, the consequences radiate far beyond the immediate area, affecting delivery schedules, supply chains and time-sensitive passenger journeys across multiple regions. Wednesday’s flooding closure in Devon is expected to contribute to a wider pattern of delays across connected corridors as drivers re-route and congestion builds elsewhere.

Infrastructure Under Pressure as Flood Events Increase

The latest closure also shines a spotlight on the resilience of motorway infrastructure to intense rainfall events that specialists say are becoming more frequent and more extreme. In Somerset, National Highways has already committed to a multimillion-pound drainage and safety upgrade on a stretch of the M5 near junction 26, aimed specifically at reducing the risk of flooding on the carriageway and verges.

Engineers involved in that scheme have highlighted the challenges posed by ageing drainage systems, silted ditches and the sheer volume of water that can fall in a short period when powerful storms pass over the region. Even well-maintained drainage can become overwhelmed, leading to rapid ponding across several lanes and undermining the structural integrity of the road surface if water penetrates through cracks.

Campaigners and motoring groups argue that episodes like the current M5 shutdown in Devon underscore the urgency of investing in robust drainage, flood defences and intelligent monitoring systems that can provide earlier warnings and faster responses. They point out that each prolonged closure carries hidden economic costs in lost productivity, missed appointments and disrupted freight operations, in addition to the immediate safety concerns.

Travel Advice for Drivers Heading to the Southwest

With conditions on the M5 southbound uncertain and further bad weather expected, motorists planning to travel into Devon and Cornwall over the next 24 to 48 hours are being urged to plan far ahead. Current advice is to check live traffic and weather updates before departure, allow significantly more time than usual, and be prepared to alter routes at short notice if new closures or incidents occur.

For those with flexible schedules, delaying journeys until official updates confirm that the flooded section between junction 28 and junction 29 has fully reopened and been inspected is likely to be the safest option. Drivers who must travel during peak periods are advised to carry warm clothing, snacks and water in case they become caught in extended tailbacks or stuck on slow-moving diversion routes.

Motorists are also reminded that satnav systems may not always account for rapidly changing closures and unsafe local roads during severe weather. Officials suggest relying on official roadside signage and police instructions where they conflict with in-car navigation, and avoiding attempts to bypass diversions via narrow lanes, fords or unclassified routes that may themselves be flooded or blocked.