Flooding is causing major problems in the Harrogate district today. Many roads are treacherous and police are urging motorists to think carefully before setting off.
Here are some of the main stories so far today:
- A rest centre may be set up tonight in Knaresborough for flood evacuees.
- Pateley Bridge High Street was flooded first thing this morning but has cleared.
- Residents in Pateley have been battling to get hold of sandbags to protect their properties.
- The water gardens at Fountains Abbey near Ripon have been ‘totally devastated’ by floods.
- Travel conditions are hazardous — police are urging motorists not to risk driving through flooded streets.
Follow our live blog for updates and send details of what’s happening in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Masham and all points in between by emailing [email protected] or send us a message on Facebook.
9.52pm: Rooms available in Knaresborough for genuine flood victims
9.47pm: Boroughbridge road predicted to flood overnight
It’s been a busy day for a lot of people but there are signs that things are starting to calm down. However:
⚠️River levels are still very high
⚠️B6265 Boroughbridge predicted to flood overnight
⚠️A Yellow wind warning is in place until 13:00 tomorrowhttps://t.co/bY84nwKX5L
— HBCEmergencyPlanning (@HBCPrepared) February 20, 2022
9.21pm: A658 south of Huby closed
Harrogate traffic constable David Minto has just tweeted a traffic update. We understand several cars have broken down after encountering the pot hole and are awaiting recovery.
https://twitter.com/TC174_NYP/status/1495508329787006978
9.18pm: Storm Franklin bringing high winds tonight
Winds of up to 51mph are expected overnight as Storm Franklin continues the wild weather in the Harrogate district.
A yellow weather warning for wind is in place until 1pm tomorrow.
It will be a very windy start to Monday due to #StormFranklin
Bands of rain & showers will also be sinking south during the rush hour, & combined with the strong winds may make travel difficult in places
Warnings are in force throughout the morning so stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/wtfn5NI9NF
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 20, 2022
8.57pm: River Ure at Boroughbridge close to record high
The Ure has also shot up today to near-record levels, as this graph shows.
According to the River Levels website, it was at 14.4 metres at 8.15pm tonight. The record is 15.79m, reached on September 26, 2012.
8.34pm: Video shows flooding in Pateley Bridge
8.19pm: Dramatic video shows Cattal flooding
8.10pm: River Nidd at Knaresborough near record level
This graph shows how rapidly the water level has increased today. The latest reading, at 7.30pm this evening, of 2.1m is only just below the highest ever, which was recorded on December 26, 2015 at 2.33m.
A typical level is between 0.43m and 0.63m.
However, the site says the river level is falling — it is 0.012m down on the reading 15 mins earlier.
7.41pm: 36 bus misses stops
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1495482851747414022
7.30pm: Leathley road ‘only passable by 4×4’
#StainburnClose #B6161 at #Leathley only passable by 4×4 due to floodwater.
If you are not sure of the depth STAY OUT.
Please do NOT attempt to drive through floodwater.— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 20, 2022
7.28pm: A61 at Harewood Bridge closed
#A61 #HarrogateRoad #HarewoodBridge at #Dunkeswick is closed to ALL traffic due to flood water.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 20, 2022
7.01pm: Ripon’s River Ure bursts banks
Thanks to reader Paul Smith, who has sent us these cracking photos of the Ure bridge at North Road in Ripon, which he took at 5pm today.
6.21pm: Busy day for firefighters in Nidderdale
Today’s North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service incident log is unusually long. It reveals the key role firefighters have played in the flood effort today. Call-outs include:
10:28 Mill Lane, Spofforth. Crews assisted with flood water in basement of property. Crew pumped water out of a basement using two light portable pumps.
14:49 Summerbridge. Crews assisted with diverting flood water away from residential properties. Small tools and sandbags used.
14:51 King Street, Pateley Bridge. Crews assisted several domestic properties with flood water. Crews pumping out.
15:25 Dacre Banks. Crews assisted homeowners in the area that had been affected by flood water. Crews used light portable pumps to alleviate water levels.
15:38 Low Wath Road, Pateley Bridge. Crews responded to a property that had water ingress affecting their electrics. Crews used a light portable pump to remove water from property.
15:40 Knaresborough. Crews assisted several residents to evacuate due to high levels of flood water. Crews used water rescue equipment
6.15pm: Naturist club reports damage
Sadly we didn’t get through storms Dudley & Eunice entirely unscathed but members have rallied round as always to keep https://t.co/37NdrW6FfJ secure. If you’re looking for a naturist club or naturist camping in #Harrogate, #Yorkshire we reopen in March for our 2022 season pic.twitter.com/S1PnErsJ7X
— Valley Club Harrogate (@ValleyClubHgate) February 20, 2022
6.12pm: Video shows dire state of A61 at Harewood bridge.
6.07pm: Will rest centre for evacuees in Knaresborough be set up?
The Ready for Anything service, which is a group of volunteers co-ordinated by North Yorkshire County Council, is reporting on social media that Chain Lane community centre and the town hall are being considered as possible sites for a rest centre for flood evacuees.
The message adds Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge are also being ‘closely watched’.
6pm: Pets rescued from Knaresborough caravan park
We reported earlier that firefighters were rescuing some residents. It seems they’ve gone back for the pets!
And family pet's too pic.twitter.com/clRdLxQKk0
— Russell Jenkinson (@russjenks999) February 20, 2022
5.56pm: Avoid A61 between Harewood and Pannal
We are receiving reports the road is totally flooded and should be closed.
5.02pm: Firefighters rescue residents in Knaresborough
#knaresborough crews assisted several residents to evacuate their homes due to high levels of flood water. pic.twitter.com/OXEYUBUK41
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 20, 2022
4.53pm: Knaresborough street flooded
Thanks to Michael White for this photo of Rowan Close in Knaresborough, which he says floods frequently due to heavy rain and blocked gutters.
4.45pm: Latest flood alerts and warnings
There appear to be 17 flood alerts and flood warnings active in the Harrogate district. Eleven are along the River Nidd.
4.41pm: Firefighters called to Pateley Bridge
Kevin Wood has sent us this photo from Pateley Bridge. e says:
“Looks like the rain is with us for the rest of the day. Hope the rest of Pateley is OK as we can’t get out.”
4.32pm: Sections of The Stray in Harrogate under water
The Stray is no stranger to puddles of water but even so, the current situation isn’t looking too great.
4.29pm: Leak on Hollins Lane in Hampsthwaite
Be careful driving in Hampsthwaite.
4.17pm: Update from Knaresborough
Some great photos have been added to the Knaresborough Photography Facebook page.
3.45pm: Sandbag problems?
Thanks again to Louise Kendall in Pateley Bridge, who sent this photo of a home trying to withstand rising floodwater.
Louisa says:
“This is the result of the local council refusing to give us sandbags as they say the river is dropping however its the drains causing the problem.
“I messaged them and they said apparently sand bags are not being released at the moment as the river is going down.”
UPDATE: Louise messaged later to say: “They have given in after a lot of hassle and given us several.”
3.38pm: Update from Ripon
Our Ripon reporter Tim Flanagan has sent this update from the city.
The River Skell rages past the Water Rat – a popular gastro pub overlooking Alma Weir and Ripon Cathedral, that is owned by Rick Jones. The pub was inundated in the floods of June 2007.
As river levels rise in the downpour, the ford at the Firs Avenue crossing near Farmison was overwhelmed when the banks burst.
Ripon’s main River, the Ure is also rising fast and can be seen here at Hewick Bridge near Ripon racecourse.
The Skell between the Iron Bridge and Bondgate Bridge passes the children’s playground in full spate.
3.31pm: Cancellations and delays at Leeds rail station
https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1495419704076292099
3.29pm: Weather update: rain expected to continue
The latest Met Office forecast for Harrogate is for more rain until 9pm tonight but it could ease after 5pm. Don’t forget, a yellow weather warning for wind is in place until 1pm tomorrow, when this grim period of weather should finally abate.
3.20pm: Flooding at the Studley Royal water garden at Fountains Abbey
The National Trust has released this video of flooding that has ‘totally devastated’ the water gardens at Fountains Abbey today. You can read more here.
3.04pm: 24 bus route cancelled
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1495412109710082052
2.54pm: River Nidd in Knaresborough
Thanks to Michael Ward for this picture of the River Nidd in Knaresborough, where it has burst its banks and partially submerged some trees.
2.45pm: Latest in Pateley Bridge
Thanks to reader Louise Kendall for these photos taken in the last few minutes, Parts of the town remain under water but Louise tells us the flood has subsided on the High Street thanks to Lee from the Spar shop cleaning the drains. “Greenwood road is worse now,” she says.
Anyone from Knaresborough able to update us on the situation there? The caravan parks are close to the Nidd.
2.43pm: Police issue warning to drivers
Please be aware there are a number of flooded roads throughout the county. Pleas DO NOT drive into floodwater. North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service will not recover vehicles.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 20, 2022
2.34pm: Pateley Bridge still badly affected
The bottom of the Nidderdale town was flooded this morning after the River Nidd burst its banks. Many nearby roads are also affected. Let us know the latest situation by emailing [email protected].
