A yellow weather warning has been issued for the Harrogate district this weekend.
The weather forecast includes thunder storms and heavy rain tomorrow, and the weather warning lasts from 9am until midnight.
Issued by the Met Office, it warns of possible dangers caused by flash-flooding resulting from heavy downpours.
It says:
“Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.
“Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.
“Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
“Some communities might become cut off if roads flood. Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.”
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North Yorkshire Council spends £171,000 a year on weather services
North Yorkshire Council has agreed to pay £171,000 a year on weather services for the county.
The council uses weather forecasting and data to plan highway services, such as gritting.
It awarded three-year contracts to MetDesk and Vaisala in 2018 to provide forecasting and weather stations respectively.
The contracts were renewed for two years in 2021 and the council has now agreed to extend them for a further two years.
Vaisala’s contract was for £114,000 and MetDesk’s was for £57,000.
James Gilroy, team leader for highways asset management at the council, said in a report to councillors, who approved the deals last week:
“The weather forecasts from Metdesk enable an overall winter maintenance plan to be established. The real time data from the Vaisala weather stations allow this plan to be more finely tuned to the situation on the ground.
“Extending the contracts is the lowest cost option and given the current performance of the respective contractors it is a low-risk approach.”
A council photocall at one of the weather stations last year
The report added 10 new solar/wind-powered weather cameras and two new weather stations had been bought at the cost of £200,000 in autumn 2021.
Sixteen original weather stations were also upgraded at a cost of £265,000 “to broaden the coverage we have across the county”.
Met Office among bidders
A council spokesperson said the weather forecast it used “requires more detail that than the standard free to access services”.
They added the services were put out to competitive tender in 2018, when the Met Office was among the bidders.
The report said there are 10 climatic domains within North Yorkshire’, which are defined as areas with similar weather characteristics.
The domains are Northern Dales, Central Dales, Western Dales, Harrogate, Vale of York and Vale of Mowbray, Selby area, North York Moors, Vale of Pickering, Northern Wolds and Howardian Hills, Eastern North York Moors and Coast and Scarborough and Filey.
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Asked why it was necessary to have 27 weather stations in North Yorkshire, the spokesperson said:
“Weather stations are placed across the county and monitor humidity, road temperature, air temperature and wind speed. Some stations have cameras on them, allowing you to see the road conditions. This helps road users to make more informed travel decisions.
“As you know, weather conditions can change rapidly. Having a wider coverage of stations allows us to make more informed and accurate decisions on gritting.”
Greenhow is the highest area around Harrogate. Pic: John Benson
Of the 27 sites, four are located in the Harrogate district, on the A6108 near Masham, the A658 Harrogate bypass, the A59 at Kex Gill and at Greenhow village.
The council is also able to access sites managed by National Highways on the A1(M) near Dishforth.
A list of all the locations in North Yorkshire is available here.
Heavy snow forecast across Harrogate district later todayThe Harrogate district is bracing itself for heavy snow later today, with an amber weather warning in place.
The Met Office has warned that the most severe weather is expected from around 3pm, lasting until noon tomorrow.
The warning, which covers large parts of North Yorkshire, said:
“Heavy snow is likely to cause significant disruption on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
“[Expect] travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely.
“There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off. Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”
There is still a high degree of uncertainty, however, with the Harrogate district being on the edge of the amber warning area and the BBC forecast showing only light snow and sleet for the rest of the day.
This morning, snow has been falling steadily in Harrogate and Knaresborough, leaving a covering on fields and gardens. However, roads are largely unaffected and remain clear.
To the north and west of Harrogate, conditions are clearer, with only light, sleety snowfall so far.
However, the forecast is for the weather to deteriorate later in the day, leading some traders to stay away from today’s market in Ripon, even though there was no snow early this morning.
Ripon market early today
Brian Murphy
Fruit and vegetable trader Brian Murphy was on site as usual this morning. He told the Stray Ferret:
“We will be keeping a close eye on the weather.
“Other traders who come from further away have decided not to come today because of fears that heavy snow could see them stuck here and unable to get home.”
Meanwhile, RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate is closed today, as is Bettys’ on-site cafe – though its shop remains open.
Harewood House has also said it will close tomorrow.
Harrogate College has issued a notice that it plans to close its doors at 1pm to ensure students and staff can get home safely.
⚠️ Important weather announcement ⚠️
Due to the heavy snow predicted this afternoon, Harrogate College will be closing at 1pm today allowing time for staff and students to safely travel home.
Online learning will take place, please contact your tutor if you have any questions.
— Harrogate College (@HarrogateColl) March 9, 2023
There are no school closures so far today. Some nurseries in the area have asked parents to collect children as early as possible this afternoon before conditions worsen.
The Stray Ferret will continue to cover the weather conditions as they change today, tonight and into tomorrow. Keep checking our site and our Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest news, including school closures, transport updates and more.
Got something to report? Email the news team with the details.
Weather warning for Harrogate district as cold snap loomsThe Met Office has issued a weather warning for snow and ice across parts of the Harrogate district next week.
The yellow warning, lasting throughout Monday and Tuesday, comes as temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing over night.
Issuing the warning, the Met Office said:
“Snow showers are likely to cause some disruption to travel with a small chance of more widespread disruption for some.
“There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel. There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off [and] a small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
“There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”
Rural areas in the north and east of the Harrogate district could see temperatures down to -4C at night, while daytime temperatures are likely to be below 6C.
https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1631604769587437568
Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water has advised residents to lag pipes that might become frozen if exposed to low temperatures, using foam insulation.
Emily Brady from Yorkshire Water said:
“Check for pipes, taps, cisterns, tanks and water meters in unheated areas that might be exposed to the cold. When you’ve found them, cut a piece of lagging to size and clip it on. If you’ve got some cable ties handy, pop a couple on to keep it secure.
“This will also help insulate your hot water system and could save you money on bills. You can also protect your outdoor taps with a tap cover to stop them freezing.
“If you turn your tap on to find no water, you might have a frozen pipe. First, check all exposed pipes for any leaks or bursts, if you can’t see anything then turn the tap on at your kitchen sink and heat the pipe with a hairdryer. Never ever use a naked flame to defrost a pipe.
“If a pipe has burst then turn your water off at the stop tap to minimise damage and water loss.”
Anyone who would be particularly vulnerable during water supply problems can join Yorkshire Water’s priority services register.
The Stray Ferret will have all the news of road conditions, school closures and more if the weather impacts on local services. Keep checking our website and social media channels for the latest updates.
Read more:
- In pictures: The day Storm Otto battered the Harrogate district
- Storm Otto leaves Ripon building owners counting the cost
Northern Lights captured over Harrogate
The Northern Lights were visible over the Harrogate district last night.
The Met Office said the aurora borealis would be visible further south than usual last night and tonight.
Sally Margerison, who lives on Harlow Hill, captured this fantastic photo of the astral phenomenon.
The light show occurs when electrically charged particles from space enter the Earth’s upper atmosphere at high speed. It may be visible again tonight over the district.
Send us your images to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
The Aurora Borealis may be visible as far south as central England tonight where skies remain clear
The Northern Lights are also likely to be seen again on Monday night pic.twitter.com/EBedkN8ytd
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 26, 2023
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In pictures: The day Storm Otto battered the Harrogate district
Storm Otto caused widespread disruption across the Harrogate district this morning.
By the time strong winds forecast by the Met Office had eased off by midday, at least 20 trees had fallen across the district.
The A1 was closed after three vehicles overturned; homes suffered power cuts and a Porsche driver discovered a tree had smashed into the rook of his vehicle.
Here are some pictures from this morning’s storm.
Firefighters deal with a perilous sign in Knaresborough.
A fallen tree blocks almost all of Leeds Road near M&S.
An overturned vehicle on the A1 during the strong winds
A fallen tree on Montpellier in Harrogate crashed onto the picture frame.
North Yorkshire County Council’s highways teams arrive to deal with a tree that crashed onto a Porsche in Harrogate.
Tree down outside Harrogate police station.
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Tourist attractions to close as Storm Otto heads for Harrogate district
People across the Harrogate district are being warned to be prepared for strong winds overnight and into tomorrow’s morning rush hour.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, with wind speeds expected to reach around 65mph between 7am and 9am as Storm Otto arrives in the UK.
The National Trust has already said both Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks will be closed tomorrow morning because of the forecast.
The Swinton Estate is closing its parklands and gardens, as well as its bivouac woodland, from tomorrow morning until Monday.
RHS Harlow Carr also said it may also have to restrict access to its site during the high winds.
⚠ Potential partial closure – Friday 17 February ⚠
Please be aware high winds are forecast for Friday 17th Feb, therefore some areas of the garden including the Woodland, Arboretum and Alpine House may need to close for safety reasons. Please check before you travel. pic.twitter.com/QTliEBeCVf
— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 16, 2023
The winds are expected to ease from lunchtime, dropping to around 20mph until the weather warning ends at 2pm.
The National Trust said Fountains Abbey could re-open at noon, while Brimham Rocks will only re-open later in the afternoon once tree safety checks have been completed.
In its warning, the Met Office said:
“Very strong winds developing through Friday morning associated with Storm Otto may bring disruption to travel.
“Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. High-sided vehicles may be particularly prone in this set-up. Some roads and bridges may close.
“Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage. Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen. Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible.”
Power cuts
Meanwhile, Northern Powergrid has urged customers who might be vulnerable during a power cut to register for its free priority services membership. It is aimed at older people, those with disabilities or additional medical or communication needs, families with young children, and anyone in a vulnerable situation.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“Our electricity network is operating as normal, however, we wanted to reassure you that we are closely monitoring the weather across our operating areas, and our teams are ready and prepared to respond if this weather has any impact on our network…
“If you have additional needs due to your medical or personal circumstances, and are not part of our Priority Services Membership, you should consider joining for free.
“It will help us to support you during a power cut including regular updates on the situation and considering alternative needs such as food and accommodation.”
Power cuts can be reported by calling 105, or via the Northern Powergrid website, which also has a map of known problems.
The Stray Ferret will report any problems caused by the high winds over night and tomorrow morning. Keep checking our website and our Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest updates.
To tell us about the impact of the storm, send us an email.
Read more:
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Weather warning for wind issued for Harrogate district on Friday
A weather warning for strong wind has been issued for the Harrogate district.
The Met Office has put the yellow warning in place for Friday (February 17) between 6am and 6pm.
The organisation has said strong winds through the day “may bring disruption to traffic”.
It has also warned that there is a “slight chance” of power cuts and cancellations to public transport services.
Meanwhile, Northern Powergrid has assured people that it is aware of the warning and has measures in place to tackle any disruption to its network.
A statement from the company said:
“Teams are ready to mobilise colleagues and support as this situation develops.
“This weather front does have the potential to have an impact and cause damage to the network, so there is a possibility that there could be disruption to power supplies in at least some parts of the region.
“Relevant teams are on standby and ready to be diverted onto the storm response should this materialise.”
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Is Harrogate district set for snow next week?
The Harrogate district could be set for its first significant snowfall of the winter.
According to the BBC’s weather forecast, which is provided by MeteoGroup, light snow will fall on Monday followed by heavy snow showers on Tuesday. Further snow is possible later in the week.
But the Met Office forecast for next week does not include any snow for the district.
Both sites, however, agree there will be a return to icy conditions with some areas struggling to get above sub-zero temperatures until Thursday.
Despite today’s drier weather, some roads remain flooded.
Group manager Bob Hoskins, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted about three cars getting stuck at Cattal.
Further flood related incidents today.
3 cars stuck in flood water at Cattal, who had followed each other into the water.Can I remind people the Fire Service DO NOT recover people’s cars
Whilst at the scene 3 further cars drove past appliance and into the water??????? pic.twitter.com/vXoFfX43ku
— Group Manager Bob Hoskins (@Golf_One4) January 12, 2023
Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for the Lower River Nidd catchment area and the Lower River Ure, which burst its banks yesterday.
However, the flood warning for the caravan park at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, has been removed.
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Strong winds lead to Knaresborough Market cancellation
High winds led to Knaresborough Market being cancelled today.
The historic market, which takes place on Market Place in the town, is usually held on a Wednesday from 7.30am until 3pm throughout the year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council cancelled the market today due to strong winds.
Unfortunately, due to high winds, Knaresborough Market has been cancelled today.
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) January 4, 2023
The move comes as strong winds and showers have been forecast across the Harrogate district throughout the day.
The Met Office recorded gusts of up to 40mph during this afternoon.
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