Drivers in Torquay, Devon, are facing dangerous road conditions after a sequence of winter storms led to thousands of new potholes across the county in late January and early February 2026. The extreme weather has damaged main roads and flooded dozens of homes, making daily travel difficult for local residents.
The damage followed a three‑week period when a string of named storms — including Storm Ingrid, Storm Chandra and Storm Goretti — tracked across the South West. The systems produced well above‑average rainfall: the Met Office reports that January 2026 was exceptionally wet in parts of the UK (the UK as a whole recorded about 117% of the long‑term January average, while some southern regions recorded totals well over 150% of the average, with a few areas approaching double the normal January amount).
Specific trouble spots include the A3022 (Riviera Way) and coastal roads around the Torquay seafront. In nearby Newton Abbot, councillors reported that more than 50 potholes were washed out on East Street after the recent storms. Local reporting and council statements describe sections of road and seafront as “a mess,” and motorists have reported increased tyre and suspension damage.
Torbay Council has reallocated emergency funds (around £400,000) to help with repairs, while Devon County Council said it has mobilised additional teams county‑wide. Council officials say inspectors are handling hundreds of reports each day (Devon County Council figures indicate inspectors were dealing with roughly 600 public reports per day during the peak), and many current repairs are temporary “patch” fixes until the ground dries out.
The worst of the weather impacts occurred during the period from around 24 January into early February 2026, when heavy rain was followed in places by freezing conditions. Councillor Dan Thomas, Cabinet Member for Highways (Devon County Council), said: “The scale of the challenge is immense, with thousands of potholes and road defects caused by the recent storms. We are prioritising urgent repairs, but until the ground dries out many repairs will only be temporary.”
Authorities continue to urge drivers to take care, avoid driving through floodwater and to report local defects so that inspectors can prioritise the most dangerous sites.
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