Flood warnings are active on low-lying areas alongside the rivers Ure, Skell and Nidd in the Ripon, Boroughbridge and Harrogate areas this morning. The Environment Agency issues flood warnings when flooding is expected and immediate action is required. One was installed in Ripon last night due to rising river levels. The Environment Agency said:
“Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Laver, River Skell, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around riverside properties including Firs Avenue and properties either side of Alma Weir.”
Another warning is active for Boroughbridge camping and caravan site along the Ure. It says the river level is expected to peak at around 2.2m at Westwick Weir this morning, A separate warning was issued at 12.48am this morning for the nearby River Tutt in Boroughbridge where properties next to the river are expected to flood. The only part of the River Nidd with a flood warning is at Birstwith, where the Environment Agency said at 4.48am this morning:
“Areas most at risk include properties situated along Wreaks Road, Clint Bank and Broomfield Road.”
Less severe flood alerts, which indicate flooding is possible but not likely, are in place for the upper, middle and lower Nidd catchment areas A flood warning for the Lower River Ure was issued at 1.48am last night but was downgraded to an alert at 8.31am, with the Environment Agency now saying:
“Flooding is possible on low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.”
The River Crimple, Lower Dunsforth Access and the Nidd at Hunsingore also have flood alerts in place. Lighter rain is expected this morning before a 48-hour dry period proceeds more rain.
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Man rescued from river near Ripon
A man was rescued from the River Ure at Sharow, near Ripon, today.
Firefighters were called to the river near Lowfield Lane at 9.39am this morning.
According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log, water crews from Ripon, Boroughbridge, Richmond, Harrogate and Selby “responded to a report of a male partially in the river”.
The incident log adds:
“The man was brought back up the embankment by fire crews and paramedics on a spinal board, to a waiting helicopter, for transfer to hospital with hypothermic symptoms.”
No further details have been provided.
Read more:
- Hotspots cause second fire in days at old rectory near Ripon
- Cuts to Harrogate fire crews would ‘put money before lives’, says ex-firefighter
Tense night ahead as worst of storm approaches
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.
We'll be #gritting some priority roads, particularly on higher routes, in parts of #NorthYorkshire overnight.
There's a chance of wintry showers, to high routes in particular, with road temperatures close to or below zero with an ice risk.
Read more ⬇️https://t.co/6cnhGrxFu6 pic.twitter.com/E7CoDn5zWB
— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) January 20, 2021
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.
Thankfully we've attended very few flooding related incidents so far today.
Please do keep following the advice, only travel if you really need to, check details of road closures and don't be tempted to drive through flood water- find another route.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) January 20, 2021
3.17pm – 21 bus route affected by flooding
Unfortunately, due to flooding the 21 is unable to reach stops Coneythorpe, The Old Barn and Moor Farm in both directions.
The nearest stops are Arkendale and Flaxby
We will let you know once we're back to normal pic.twitter.com/vyKsmijMIj
— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) January 20, 2021
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.
Water levels rise beneath the main bridge in Boroughbridge. Photograph: Peter Phillips
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.
Flooded fields near Ure Bank Top.
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.
The Nidd at Ripley… Fields are full @northyorkswx pic.twitter.com/xZK1sTAIgG
— JB (@JB10MILLION) January 20, 2021
The Ure at Ripon…. Burst banks… Sorry about the pic quality… All taken as a passenger @northyorkswx pic.twitter.com/72FWlUTbBc
— JB (@JB10MILLION) January 20, 2021
Alex Smith took this image of flooding in Cattal, close to the site of a proposed new 3,000 home settlement.
Nine flood alerts and warnings are in force this morning across the Harrogate district as persistent rain causes river levels to rise to dangerous levels.
Notorious flooding location Knaresborough caravan park and Goldsborough mill farm were put on the more severe ‘warning’ level during the night.
The warning says “flooding of property, roads and land in Knaresborough is possible today” as Nidd river levels are expected to continue to rise. It adds:
“Areas most at risk are riverside land at Knaresborough caravan park. Please activate any property flood protection products you may have, such as flood barriers and air brick covers, and stay away from fast moving water.”
Roecliffe caravan park, near Boroughbridge, is identified as the most vulnerable location in an overnight warning for the River Ure, which says:
“Flooding of property/roads and farmland is expected imminently. Please put your flood plan into action, and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded and stay away from fast moving water.”
Ure near Ripon
An alert was put in place for the lower Ure, just east of Ripon city centre, overnight. An update just before 4am this morning says:
“Flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible today,”
An alert was also activated overnight for the River Crimple, near Follifoot, and its tributaries including Horn Beck, Clark Beck, Hookstone Beck, Rud Beck, Toad Hole Beck and Park Beck.
It warns flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible.
Nidd risk
There is widespread risk along the River Nidd.
Alerts were issued yesterday afternoon for the river just above and below Pateley Bridge. Last night a warning was put in place for around Hunsingsore and Cattal.
Alerts for the lower and middle catchment areas of the Nidd also remain in force.
More heavy rain is expected today and tomorrow morning.
If you are affected by flooding, contact us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk