Parts of the UK hit by floods
Torrential and prolonged rain fell across much of northern England yesterday leading to widespread flooding and chaos.
The Environment Agency issued 116 flood warnings and 15 severe flood warnings last night, as minor streams across the northern half of the country rose by up to three metres - breaking their banks.
Yorkshire was badly hit with around 60 homes flooded in Armitage Bridge, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. While in nearby Silsden, 100 people were evacuated from a factory as floodwaters gushed in. Dozens of homes and businesses have been hit by the flooding, including Yorkshire residents who were affected by last summers devastating floods.
Many places in the north of England saw in excess of 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain in 24 hours. Stonyhurst in Lancashire topped the rainfall league with 51.2mm (just over 2 inches). The rain brought chaos to the transport networks with flooded roads and railways. Many services were suspended or cancelled, and there were no trains operating from Leeds to York, Manchester and Sheffield.
With cold air to the north of the rain band, the rain turned to heavy snow in areas above 200 meters. Parts of Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire experienced almost ‘white out’ conditions with up to 152mm (6 inches) falling in a relatively short space of time. Dozens of schools and roads were closed as a result.
Although the number of flood warnings has decreased, further mild, wet and windy weather is expected for much of the British Isles over the weekend and into the coming week, which is not good news for the already saturated and flooded areas.
