The south-west of England felt the brunt of high tides and strong winds on Friday (January 3) as Britain's Environment Agency issued 16 severe flood warnings for the region, including Gloucestershire and Wales.br br The governments emergencies committee Cobra will meet to discus the situation.br br In Bude, Cornwall emergency teams handed out sandbags as strong waves breached the sea walls, flooding the coastal road.br br The severe weather comes days after tens of thousands of Britons were left without electricity on Christmas Day following earlier storms.