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Storm Frank: more gales and downpours forecast as new floods threaten - live coverage Storm Frank: more gales and downpours forecast as new floods threaten - live coverage
(35 minutes later)
10.40am GMT10:40
Storm Frank forces road closures in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is already being affected by Storm Frank. Several roads have been closed and P&O has cancelled sailings between Larne and Cairnryan.
#StormFrank latest: Roads closed across Northern Ireland due to flooding https://t.co/bEMcBnubxc
10.24am GMT10:2410.24am GMT10:24
Pumps back in operation at Foss Barrier in YorkPumps back in operation at Foss Barrier in York
The EA says pumps are now working at the Foss Barrier in York. The barrier prevents flood water from the River Ouse backing up the River Foss.The EA says pumps are now working at the Foss Barrier in York. The barrier prevents flood water from the River Ouse backing up the River Foss.
The Foss Barrier, #York is now operational + in the closed position pumping water from the R. Foss into River Ouse pic.twitter.com/ADcmNGCfhWThe Foss Barrier, #York is now operational + in the closed position pumping water from the R. Foss into River Ouse pic.twitter.com/ADcmNGCfhW
10.16am GMT10:1610.16am GMT10:16
In Cumbria, police are urging people to get their shopping done before Storm Frank hits.In Cumbria, police are urging people to get their shopping done before Storm Frank hits.
#stormfrank get 2the shops/do any driving 2day whilst the weather is a bit calmer Once #frankie arrives please stay indoors unless urgent#stormfrank get 2the shops/do any driving 2day whilst the weather is a bit calmer Once #frankie arrives please stay indoors unless urgent
9.59am GMT09:599.59am GMT09:59
The Manchester Evening News reports that every household in Rochdale affected by the flooding is to get a £500 payment from the council to help them get back on their feet. Council officers are working to identify the households affected to work out how to get the financial aid to them. The council are also speaking with the government about more substantial, longer-term payments to help residents and businesses.The Manchester Evening News reports that every household in Rochdale affected by the flooding is to get a £500 payment from the council to help them get back on their feet. Council officers are working to identify the households affected to work out how to get the financial aid to them. The council are also speaking with the government about more substantial, longer-term payments to help residents and businesses.
Each household affected by flooding in Rochdale to be given £500 by council https://t.co/SIQIley4bU pic.twitter.com/zV6XIjB7n2Each household affected by flooding in Rochdale to be given £500 by council https://t.co/SIQIley4bU pic.twitter.com/zV6XIjB7n2
9.50am GMT09:509.50am GMT09:50
Floods minister Rory Stewart was asked on the Today programme whether the government will seek EU funding for the floods. This is what he said.Floods minister Rory Stewart was asked on the Today programme whether the government will seek EU funding for the floods. This is what he said.
That’s again something we’re open-minded on but to be honest about that it can be seven or eight months to process, it’s not going to be able to help people who are immediately affected. So our real priority at the moment is to get the money to the people who are affected and making sure businesses and householders get the support now.That’s again something we’re open-minded on but to be honest about that it can be seven or eight months to process, it’s not going to be able to help people who are immediately affected. So our real priority at the moment is to get the money to the people who are affected and making sure businesses and householders get the support now.
9.44am GMT09:449.44am GMT09:44
9.36am GMT09:369.36am GMT09:36
Front page of Yorkshire Post.Front page of Yorkshire Post.
PM facing tide of flood fury. Front page of today's @yorkshirepost. #yplive pic.twitter.com/UykAEXYRvrPM facing tide of flood fury. Front page of today's @yorkshirepost. #yplive pic.twitter.com/UykAEXYRvr
9.21am GMT09:219.21am GMT09:21
Some telephone lines at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital have stopped working due to damage to the region’s phone systems from flooding in Leeds. Connection problems with the lines, including the hospital’s main number, started on Monday and are still affecting services today.Some telephone lines at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital have stopped working due to damage to the region’s phone systems from flooding in Leeds. Connection problems with the lines, including the hospital’s main number, started on Monday and are still affecting services today.
NEW: Phone lines down at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital due to Leeds flooding https://t.co/0ICqblgYYB pic.twitter.com/OrOl3zyFCYNEW: Phone lines down at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital due to Leeds flooding https://t.co/0ICqblgYYB pic.twitter.com/OrOl3zyFCY
9.19am GMT09:199.19am GMT09:19
More flooding expected in southern and central Scotland and CumbriaMore flooding expected in southern and central Scotland and Cumbria
The Met Office says Storm Frank will bring gales or severe gales to western parts of the UK from Tuesday evening into Wednesday. Gusts of 55-65 mph are likely quite widely, with gusts reaching 70-80 mph in exposed areas, particularly in north-west Scotland, and later Shetland.The Met Office says Storm Frank will bring gales or severe gales to western parts of the UK from Tuesday evening into Wednesday. Gusts of 55-65 mph are likely quite widely, with gusts reaching 70-80 mph in exposed areas, particularly in north-west Scotland, and later Shetland.
Rainfall is expected to cause some disruption with persistent, heavy rain over parts of Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, spreading to north-west England and Wales through Wednesday. Rainfall totals of 20-40mm are expected widely across these areas but with 80mm possible over high ground and some exposed areas in southwest Scotland and Cumbria have the potential to receive 100-150mm of rainfall.Rainfall is expected to cause some disruption with persistent, heavy rain over parts of Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, spreading to north-west England and Wales through Wednesday. Rainfall totals of 20-40mm are expected widely across these areas but with 80mm possible over high ground and some exposed areas in southwest Scotland and Cumbria have the potential to receive 100-150mm of rainfall.
Will Lang, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: “We expect stormy conditions to return midweek, and have already issued National Severe Weather Warnings for gales on Tuesday and heavy rain on Wednesday, as a rapidly deepening area of low pressure, Storm Frank, passes to the northwest of the UK.Will Lang, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: “We expect stormy conditions to return midweek, and have already issued National Severe Weather Warnings for gales on Tuesday and heavy rain on Wednesday, as a rapidly deepening area of low pressure, Storm Frank, passes to the northwest of the UK.
“Everyone should be aware of the potential for disruption in places from further flooding and the impacts of the gales to transport, especially in areas such as southern and central Scotland and Cumbria where amber ‘be prepared’ warnings are in place.“Everyone should be aware of the potential for disruption in places from further flooding and the impacts of the gales to transport, especially in areas such as southern and central Scotland and Cumbria where amber ‘be prepared’ warnings are in place.
Updated at 10.01am GMTUpdated at 10.01am GMT
9.06am GMT09:069.06am GMT09:06
A severe flood warning remains for York city centre and areas of Huntington, Tang Hall, Osbaldwick and Foss Islands. The EA says it is testing repairs on the Foss Barrier that were put in place during daylight hours. Levels on the River Ouse have fallen from a peak of 5.2m to 4.8m during Monday, but levels will remain high and flood water will remain in affected areas throughout this week. Rainfall is forecast on Wednesday which may have further impacts for this area, says the EA.A severe flood warning remains for York city centre and areas of Huntington, Tang Hall, Osbaldwick and Foss Islands. The EA says it is testing repairs on the Foss Barrier that were put in place during daylight hours. Levels on the River Ouse have fallen from a peak of 5.2m to 4.8m during Monday, but levels will remain high and flood water will remain in affected areas throughout this week. Rainfall is forecast on Wednesday which may have further impacts for this area, says the EA.
8.48am GMT08:488.48am GMT08:48
More rain, more flooding says the Met Office.More rain, more flooding says the Met Office.
Greatest impact from #StormFrank will be rain. Unfortunately more #flooding looks likely. Big rainfall totals. Simon pic.twitter.com/lzBgkpJSG7Greatest impact from #StormFrank will be rain. Unfortunately more #flooding looks likely. Big rainfall totals. Simon pic.twitter.com/lzBgkpJSG7
8.45am GMT08:458.45am GMT08:45
Martin KettleMartin Kettle
Martin Kettle addresses the north-south theme cited by several northern politicians and the Yorkshire Evening Post in a powerful editorial yesterday. In his column, he writes:Martin Kettle addresses the north-south theme cited by several northern politicians and the Yorkshire Evening Post in a powerful editorial yesterday. In his column, he writes:
As the Bible says, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. But you only have to look at the London focus of so much infrastructural renewal, never mind the mere existence of the Thames Barrier, to see why there is a genuine grievance here. London gets the projects it wants , while the people of Kirkstall and Rochdale have to brush the water and the dirt out of their flooded homes.As the Bible says, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. But you only have to look at the London focus of so much infrastructural renewal, never mind the mere existence of the Thames Barrier, to see why there is a genuine grievance here. London gets the projects it wants , while the people of Kirkstall and Rochdale have to brush the water and the dirt out of their flooded homes.
The most important thing about the Christmas floods of 2015 is, without doubt, the misery of having your house, your street, your village and now even your city under water. But it’s almost as important that it is our country, northern England, where this is happening, though perhaps it just doesn’t feel like that in Chelsea or Shoreditch. This is a test of national solidarity as well as government.The most important thing about the Christmas floods of 2015 is, without doubt, the misery of having your house, your street, your village and now even your city under water. But it’s almost as important that it is our country, northern England, where this is happening, though perhaps it just doesn’t feel like that in Chelsea or Shoreditch. This is a test of national solidarity as well as government.
Unless we also see the floods as an episode in the continued loosening and perhaps even the collapse of the UK, we will not see their full danger and potency. It will take more than a visit by Cameron in his wellies to persuade the victims that the government is on their side. It will take more even than government money, projects and activism, even supposing these are on offer. It will take an enduring conviction that the north matters just as much as anywhere else in Britain. And at the moment, that conviction just is not there.Unless we also see the floods as an episode in the continued loosening and perhaps even the collapse of the UK, we will not see their full danger and potency. It will take more than a visit by Cameron in his wellies to persuade the victims that the government is on their side. It will take more even than government money, projects and activism, even supposing these are on offer. It will take an enduring conviction that the north matters just as much as anywhere else in Britain. And at the moment, that conviction just is not there.
8.41am GMT08:418.41am GMT08:41
Floods minister Rory Stewart has defended the cuts made in the previous coalition government to flood defences saying that £1.8bn had been spent in the last parliament.Floods minister Rory Stewart has defended the cuts made in the previous coalition government to flood defences saying that £1.8bn had been spent in the last parliament.
He told Good Morning Britain: “Underlying the central problem I’m afraid is the weather. We have never had rain like this before. We have been dealing with this for nearly three-and-a-half weeks now. We started with more rain than had ever been seen in a day in the United Kingdom. We have had more rain than has ever happened in this month.He told Good Morning Britain: “Underlying the central problem I’m afraid is the weather. We have never had rain like this before. We have been dealing with this for nearly three-and-a-half weeks now. We started with more rain than had ever been seen in a day in the United Kingdom. We have had more rain than has ever happened in this month.
“Rivers here which haven’t flooded in this way for 75 years are 15 feet up. I’m afraid that is the fundamental problem here. We are spending an enormous amount of money on flood defences. In the end what is beating us is this relentless rain.”“Rivers here which haven’t flooded in this way for 75 years are 15 feet up. I’m afraid that is the fundamental problem here. We are spending an enormous amount of money on flood defences. In the end what is beating us is this relentless rain.”
On the Today programme, the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, called for cross-party agreement on a long term plan. “We cannot be in a situation where there is stop-start investment,” he said. McDonnell rejected the argument that money for foreign aid should be spent on flood defence at home, saying that aid money is being spent on tackling climate change at source.On the Today programme, the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, called for cross-party agreement on a long term plan. “We cannot be in a situation where there is stop-start investment,” he said. McDonnell rejected the argument that money for foreign aid should be spent on flood defence at home, saying that aid money is being spent on tackling climate change at source.
8.31am GMT08:318.31am GMT08:31
As communities continue to clean up after the Boxing Day floods, gales and downpours are forecast from this evening, with Cumbria and southern and central Scotland most at risk of more disruption from Storm Frank.As communities continue to clean up after the Boxing Day floods, gales and downpours are forecast from this evening, with Cumbria and southern and central Scotland most at risk of more disruption from Storm Frank.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings with up to 40mm of persistent rain expected widely across Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, Wales and north-west England - flooded by Storm Desmond - by tomorrow. Twice that is possible - 80mm - over high ground, with some exposed areas in south-west Scotland and Cumbria warned they could be hit by 100-150mm. It said the conditions were “not unusual for this time of year” and comparable with the storms of the winter of 2013-14.The Met Office has issued amber warnings with up to 40mm of persistent rain expected widely across Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, Wales and north-west England - flooded by Storm Desmond - by tomorrow. Twice that is possible - 80mm - over high ground, with some exposed areas in south-west Scotland and Cumbria warned they could be hit by 100-150mm. It said the conditions were “not unusual for this time of year” and comparable with the storms of the winter of 2013-14.
Here is what we know so far this morning:Here is what we know so far this morning: