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Risk of significant flooding in northern England as more rain forecast Risk of significant flooding in northern England as more rain forecast
(about 1 hour later)
Communities in northern England face the risk of significant flooding this weekend as heavy rain is expected to fall on already saturated ground. The Environment Agency has sent water pumps to Cumbria and issued flood warnings for areas in northern England this weekend as heavy rain is expected to fall on already saturated ground.
The Environment Agency said Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and North and West Yorkshire were the areas most at risk of significant river flooding and localised surface water flooding on Saturday evening and into Sunday. The two 7.3-metre (24ft) high-volume pumps are capable of pumping 120,000 cubic litres of floodwater a minute.
A month’s rain could fall on high ground in some areas on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, following days of wet and windy weather, the agency said. The agency said Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and North and West Yorkshire were most at risk of significant river flooding and localised surface water flooding on Saturday and Sunday.
Craig Woolhouse, the Environment Agency’s director of incident management, said: “River levels across northern England are already high and are expected to rise with this further heavy rainfall, bringing with them a significant risk of flooding. Many northern parts of the country are saturated after days of wet and windy weather. The outlook remains unsettled into next week.
“River levels across northern England are already high and are expected to rise with this further heavy rainfall, bringing with them a significant risk of flooding,” said Craig Woolhouse, an Environment Agency director.
“We are working closely with the emergency services and partners to prepare ahead of the weekend. Our teams are already in action clearing watercourses, maintaining existing defences and standing ready to deploy temporary pumps and defences where these can be effective.”“We are working closely with the emergency services and partners to prepare ahead of the weekend. Our teams are already in action clearing watercourses, maintaining existing defences and standing ready to deploy temporary pumps and defences where these can be effective.”
Two high-volume water pumps have been dispatched to Cumbria. They are capable of pumping 120,000 cubic litres of flood water a minute. Motorists were warned not to attempt to drive through floodwater. The agency said 30cm of flowing water was enough to move a car.
The Environment Agency advised motorists not to drive through floodwater, warning that 1ft of water is enough to move a car. Leon Brown, a meteorologist at Weather Channel UK, said heavy rainfall could be expected across Ireland, Wales and north-west England, and eventually southern and western Scotland. “Since rivers are already high, local flooding is likely,” he said. “We may see 100-150mm over west Cumbria and widely 50-75mm.”
Two flood warnings are in place, at Keswick Campsite, in Cumbria, and Aberystwyth, in west Wales, and 23 flood alerts.
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The Met Office has issued a yellow “be aware” weather warning centred on north Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland as a slow-moving front brings heavy and persistent rain. There are two flood warnings in place, at Keswick campsite in Cumbria and Aberystwyth in west Wales, and 23 flood alerts.
Many areas covered by the warning are likely to see 70-100mm (2.8-3.9ins) of rain, and some more exposed parts of north Wales and north-west England could see as much as 150-200mm. The Met Office has issued a yellow “be aware” weather warning for north Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland. Many areas covered by the warning are likely to face 70-100mm (2.8-3.9ins) of rain, and some more exposed parts of north Wales and north-west England could experience up to 150-200mm.
Such heavy rain on already saturated ground is likely to lead to flooding from standing water or from rivers bursting their banks, the Met Office has said. The agency has urged people to check their flood risk on its website or follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter for the latest updates.
The outlook remains unsettled into next week.