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20
Jan 2021
Last Updated: 20/01/2021
Tense night ahead as worst of storm approaches
Flood warnings and alerts are in place throughout the Harrogate district tonight. With a Met Office amber rain forecast tonight, the next 18 hours could see conditions worsen.
Flood warnings and alerts are in place throughout the Harrogate district tonight after another day of persistent rain from Storm Christoph.
With a Met Office amber rain warning in place tonight, many low-lying areas are in danger. Some land and roads have already flooded.
Here's a look at how today unfolded.
You can check flood warnings near you on the government's flood information service website, which is maintained by the Environment Agency. Click here.
9.12pm - 'Flooding of property, roads and land in Knaresborough is possible'
The updated Environment Agency flood warning for the River Nidd at Knaresborough caravan park and Goldsborough Mill farm makes sombre reading.
It says Knaresborough caravan park is the area most at risk.
Flooding is also 'expected' at Roecliffe caravan park and Milby Island near Boroughbridge on the Ure, according to further updates this evening.
We will sign off now but will be back early tomorrow with more flood updates. Please send any flood photos or news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
8.33pm - Environment Agency issues new flood alert and warning
The Environment Agency has activated a new flood alert and new flood warming this evening.
The alert is for the Lower Dunsforth Access near Boroughbridge, and says:
"The current level at Boroughbridge is 14.8m and levels are forecast to peak this evening. Further heavy rain is expected until Thursday and we expect river levels to rise accordingly. Areas most at risk are low lying land and roads. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and do not drive through flood water."
The more severe flood warning is for the River Ure at Aldwark Bridge to Cuddy Shaw, on the fringes of the district. The alert says 'flooding of property, roads and farmland is expected tonight' and homes in Aldwark Bridge were most at risk.
8.11pm - Pateley Bridge feels the impact
Sinead Cregan took these photos of Pateley Bridge today. The Nidderdale town often bears the brunt of high water on the upper Nidd and further flooding of roads and farmland is expected, according to a flood warning that is currently in place.
6.58pm - Amber rain warning tonight
There is still a way to go before the wet weather relents and indeed conditions could worsen tonight and tomorrow as rain continues to fall on saturated land.
The Met Office has an amber warning in place for the Harrogate area until 6am tomorrow, which says there is a 'good chance' of some places being cut off, as well as power cuts.
5.45pm - Gritters out as wintry showers threaten high ground
Although flooding is the primary concern tonight, North Yorkshire County Council has said it will be gritting main routes in areas that may see some wintry showers.
https://twitter.com/northyorkscc/status/1351945221815283717
5.05pm - Nidderdale Lodge Park on watchlist as river levels rise
Residents on the Nidderdale Lodge Park will be watching water levels closely overnight as the River Nidd continues to rise.
One of the residents has said it is currently at around 1.4m and says if it reaches 2m some residents may have to evacuate. She said it doesn't look like it will reach 2m but the town's response group is ready to step in to help if it does.
4.50pm - Motorists warned not to drive through floodwater.
https://twitter.com/NorthYorksFire/status/1351934965945139202
3.15pm - Fire services quiet so far
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is usually busy during bad weather but today's rain hasn't caused too many problems — so far.
https://twitter.com/NorthYorksFire/status/1351922422958718977
3.17pm - 21 bus route affected by flooding
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1351898810067333120
3.06pm - Fog on A59 at Blubberhouses
Lots of flood warnings and alerts in place, with people holding their breath that the situation doesn't deteriorate before the storm passes tomorrow. To add to the weather issues, Julie Benson has warned of fog on the A59 between Blubberhouses and Bolton Abbey.
https://twitter.com/JB10MILLION/status/1351901290562023425?s=20
2.05pm - Environment Agency on site in Boroughbridge
The Environment Agency and Boroughbridge Emergency Response Team are keeping a close eye on the River Ure as water levels continue to rise.
Water levels are already close to those forecasted for tonight so both teams will be monitoring the river closely.
1.05pm - Knaresborough caravan park preparing for heavy rain
The Stray Ferret has been told the Nidderdale Lodge Park, in Knaresborough, hasn't flooded yet but with heavy rain forecast for the rest of the afternoon the town's flood response team is keeping an eye on the area.
A flood warning is currently in place for the River Nidd by the Knaresborough caravan park.
12.27am - 10 flood alerts and warnings currently in place in Harrogate district
There are currently five alerts and five warnings. Warnings are more severe. Warnings are in place for:
River Ure at Milby Island
River Ure at Roecliffe caravan park
River Nidd at Low Laithe
River Nidd at Knaresborough caravan parks and Goldsborough Mill farm
River Nidd at Hunsingore
Alerts are in place for:
Lower River Ure
Upper Nidd catchment area
Middle Nidd catchment area
Lower Nidd catchment area
River Crimple catchment
11.45am - River Ure at Milby Island expected to flood property and roads
The warning, issued this morning, says the level of the Ure is forecast to peak late evening at about 14.7m to 14.9m,
"Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is expected today. Areas most at risk are properties on Milby Island.
"Avoid walking or driving through flood water."
11.35am - Boroughbridge emergency response team "prepared"
The Boroughbridge emergency response team, headed by local resident Pauline Phillips, are ready to take action if water levels in the River Ouse rise. The team says at 15 metres it comes on to the road, it is currently at 14.7m.
The team wanted to assure residents it has plans in place if the river does breach its bank. Yorkshire Water is also monitoring the town's car park which has previously flooded after underground pipes burst.
She added:
"We are prepared to respond if the town does flood but of course we hope we aren't needed".
11.20am - Flooded fields near River Ure
The River Ure has burst its banks near North Bridge. Currently, there are no reports of properties being flooded.
The rising waters of the River Ure are reported to be close to the Yorkshire Water waste pumping station located at Sharow on the Dishforth Road at Ripon.
10.50am - Rainfall levels expected to peak tomorrow
Karl Battersby, North Yorkshire County Council's corporate director for business and environmental services, has been giving a flooding update this morning for the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of organisations that tackle emergencies in the county.
Mr Battersby said the council was working with the Environment Agency to tackle individual flood issues across the county and that rainfall levels were expected to peak tomorrow. Mr Battersby said:
“We are expecting this to peak on Thursday, then after that to reduce in terms of rainfall. However we are also expecting cold temperatures and some snowfall on the back of that.
Matt Robinson, head of the county council’s resilience and emergency team, said the county had many catchment areas that react to heavy rainfall.
“In North Yorkshire we are like a big bath and we have about 20 taps that can turn on at any one time.
“We have had our first batch of rain and we have some of our catchments have reacted to that.
“This is not going to be the worst flood event that North Yorkshire has faced, but we are mindful that properties will flood.”
Mr Robinson urged residents concerned about their properties flooding to contact their district council should they need sandbags or other flood defences.
10.15am - Nidd and Ure burst banks
Images of flooded fields are beginning to appear as the extent of the overnight rain on saturated land becomes apparent.
Julie Benson took these photos of the Nidd at Ripley and Ure at Ripon.
https://twitter.com/JB10MILLION/status/1351824366368124928?s=20
https://twitter.com/JB10MILLION/status/1351827876736348160?s=20
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