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Severe flood warnings remain in Midlands and north of England Severe flood warnings remain in Midlands and north of England
(about 1 hour later)
Seven ‘danger to life’ warnings issued for River Don as flooding leaves trail of devastationSeven ‘danger to life’ warnings issued for River Don as flooding leaves trail of devastation
Severe flood warnings remain in place in the Midlands and northern England, where heavy flooding has left a trail of devastation and claimed the life of a woman. Flood warnings remain in place across the Midlands and northern England as receding waters revealed a trail of devastation across the region.
The Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from river banks after a woman was swept away in Derbyshire on Friday. The Environment Agency has issued seven severe flood warnings for the River Don at Barnby Dun, Bently, Fishlake, Kirk Bramwith, Kirk Sandall, South Bramwith and Willow Bridge caravan site.
Yorkshire and the Midlands were among the worst-affected areas, where the agency has issued seven severe flood warnings suggesting there is a danger to life. “The River Don at Doncaster and the Derwent at Derby both peaked at record levels overnight,” said John Curtin, the EA’s executive director of flood and coastal risk management. “Although river levels are falling dangerous flood waters remain so we still have seven severe flood warnings in force.”
All seven warnings are for the River Don, at Barnby Dun, Bently, Fishlake, Kirk Bramwith, Kirk Sandall, South Bramwith and Willow Bridge caravan site. There are also 55 warnings telling people to take immediate action in light of expected flooding, along with 88 alerts urging residents to be prepared.
There are also 63 warnings telling people to take immediate action in light of expected flooding, along with 99 “be prepared” alerts. Derbyshire police were warning people that widespread floods remained on roads both in Derby and across the county, with major impacts on the bus network alongside significant delays to train services.
Although widespread disruption is expected to continue, areas affected by the flooding are set to avoid further downpours. “If you come across a flooded road turn back and find a different route,” the force said on Twitter. “Even where water levels begin to lower the depth can still be unknown and cause significant danger.
Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates described it as “quite a messy weather picture” with a mix of low temperatures, frost, rain and even the potential of snow in some places. “As flood waters begin to recede you should take care not to come into contact with water or any of the silt or items left behind.
But he added: “I think the most important thing is that the areas which have been affected by floods should avoid rain and get some respite.” “If you do come into contact with water or silt then you should thoroughly clean your hands and wash any clothing that also comes into contact.”
During a visit to the flood-hit town of Matlock in Derbyshire on Friday, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, said the widespread flooding across the UK “is not looking like something we need to escalate to the level of a national emergency”. Yorkshire and the Midlands were among the areas worst affected by heavy downpours on Thursday and Friday.
Johnson said the government would “certainly stand by ready to help” after the country was hit by deluge of water described as “almost biblical” by residents in Toll Bar, near Doncaster. Sheffield in South Yorkshire received 84mm of rain over 36 hours, which is almost the average monthly rainfall for Yorkshire, said Met Office weather forecaster Marco Petanga.
His visit came after the death of a woman who was reportedly swept away by flood water as parts of the Midlands and northern England were battered by a month’s worth of rain in one day. Gringley on the Hill in Nottinghamshire had 65mm of rain in that time.
The body of the woman, who has not been identified, was recovered in Darley Dale, near Matlock, at about 10.40am on Friday, Derbyshire police said. She was reported to have been swept away by flood water in Rowsley in the early hours. Dry weather and sunshine are now forecast for the areas worst affected by the floods. “It’s a cold start but there will be some sunshine throughout the day and a lot of dry weather,” Petanga said.
A heavy band of rain is set to spread east across Northern Ireland into Saturday before drying out in the evening. There are two yellow rain warnings, with one in place from 11am to midnight stretching from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, to Eastbourne and Portsmouth and another from 5am to 8pm covering Northern Ireland from Ballycastle to Newry.
County Down could receive up to 50mm, although most areas in the region could get 20-30mm. Northern Ireland could get up to 50mm of rain on Saturday, Petanga said.
Keates said that some snow was possible in parts of Wales and the first snow of the autumn could hit the mountain tops of Snowdonia. The Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due to visit flood-hit areas of South Yorkshire on Saturday, after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, angered people in the region on Friday by describing the floods as “not looking like something we need to escalate to the level of a national emergency”.
Cold weather is also on the way in parts. Keates said: “In the coldest temperatures in Scotland, it could be -6C while parts of southern England could see - 2C.” His visit came after the death of a woman who was reportedly swept away by flood water. The body of the woman, who has not been identified, was recovered in Darley Dale, near Matlock, at about 10.40am on Friday, Derbyshire police said.
She was reported to have been swept away by floodwater in Rowsley in the early hours.