From the AP:

Helicopters carrying three senior U.S. senators made emergency landings Thursday in the mountains of Afghanistan because of a snowstorm.

Sens. John Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel were aboard the aircraft. No one was injured, according a statement from Kerry’s office. The senators and their delegation returned to Bagram Air Base in a motor convoy, and have left for Turkey.

“After several hours, the senators were evacuated by American troops and returned overland to Bagram Air Base, and left for their next scheduled stop in Ankara, Turkey,” the Kerry statement said. “Sen. Kerry thanks the American troops, who were terrific as always and who continue to do an incredible job in Afghanistan.”

The lawmakers were on a trip this week that included stops in India, Turkey and Pakistan, where they observed the elections earlier this week.

Kerry and Biden are Democrats from Massachusetts and Delaware, respectively, and the Republican Hagel is from Nebraska.

From the Daily Mail:

Tens of thousands of householders are today preparing for some of the worst coastal floods in decades.

Sea levels could rise up to 9ft this morning along part of the East Coast, putting lives at risk.

Sea defences in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft could be breached around 7am, sending a torrent of salt water into the towns.

• Eight severe flood warnings issued by Environment Agency

• Surge expected to hit east coast in next 12 hours

• Police on standby to evacuate homes

• Dartford Creek and Thames barriers closed

Police and fire services were last night preparing to evacuate thousands of homes. Householders were stocking up on sandbags and emergency provisions.

The Norfolk Broads, Essex and northern Kent could also be hit, and the entire coast from Immingham in Humberside to Margate in Kent has been told to be on alert.

The Environment Agency, which issued eight severe flood warnings, last night said it was “gravely concerned” about the threat.

Gordon Brown called a meeting of the emergency Cabinet committee Cobra to prepare for his third major flood crisis since taking office in the summer.

The tidal surge is being caused by 50mph winds in the North Sea, an unusually high tide and an area of low pressure off the East Coast.

Simon Hughes, of the Environment Agency, said: “Great Yarmouth is very low lying and the surge is expected to hit at the same time as the high tide.”

It is expected to measure almost 5ft above what is normally expected – but in the worst case, it could be more than 9ft higher.

Mr Hughes said the defences were almost 10ft high, “so it’s going to be close and we are gravely concerned”.

He added: “The most important thing that people can do is contact the Environment Agency’s Floodline to see if they will be affected. If they are, they can move valuables upstairs, move their vehicles and ensure that their neighbours are safe.”

The surge has echoes of the East Coast floods of 1953, when more than 1,000 people died.

“Things are very different now,” said Mr Hughes. “We have flood defences, a warning system and the emergency services are well prepared and practice for floods.”

Around 8,000 homes in Great Yarmouth could be at risk, along with 1,800 in Lowestoft.

Last night, locals were collecting sandbags from the council and preparing to barricade their homes.

Beth Manning, of Great Yarmouth police, said: “Evacuation is more than likely. We have been doing a lot of immediate work in Yarmouth.”

Izzie Cunningham, of Lowestoft’s Waterlane Leisure Centre, said: “The centre will be an evacuation centre.”

Police warned residents to avoid travel, prepare to move upstairs by hoarding food, clothes, blankets and torches, and fill the bath and buckets with water for washing in case there is a loss of water supply.

Norfolk and Suffolk have six severe flood warnings between Winterton, Norfolk and Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

The warnings carry an Environment Agency alert stating: “Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now.”

Five less serious flood warnings and 22 flood watches are in place around the East Coast. In Kent, the surge will peak around noon, but is not expected to be as severe.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of Kent.”

Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for the latest warnings.