Month’s rainfall forecast to fall in 24 hours in some areas, with special pumps dispatched to Cumbria where flood risk is greatest

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

People in northern England and Wales have been warned to brace themselves for possible flooding as another band of heavy rain sweeps across the UK.

The Met Office has issued amber warnings of severe weather for north-west Wales and parts of north-west England, with the Environment Agency saying Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and North and West Yorkshire are at risk from significant river and localised flooding on Saturday evening and into Sunday.

Cumbria has been highlighted as the area most at risk as some areas of the north prepare for a month’s rainfall in 24 hours.

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Met Office forecaster Nicola Willis said high ground is likely to be most affected with up to 200mm (7.9in) of rain expected to fall over the weekend.

She added: “These areas have had a lot of rain already this week and they are already quite saturated. We are expecting the rain to be heavy and persistent, although the heaviest rain will not necessarily continue through the whole of the warning period.”

Many areas covered by the weather warning are likely to see 2.8-3.9in (70-100mm) of rain, while some more exposed parts of north Wales and north-west England could see as much as 150-200mm.

The Environment Agency said its teams have been checking flood defences and deploying high-volume pumps. It said two 7-metre (23ft) long pumps, capable of pumping 120,000 litres (26,400 gallons) of floodwater a minute, have been dispatched to Cumbria from a depot in south-west England.

On Saturday morning, two flood warnings were in place – for Keswick campsite in Cumbria, and for the river Ouse at Naburn Lock, south of York – but there were also 45 flood alerts.



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Natural Resources Wales said it was keeping a close eye on the Dyfi, Elwy, Conwy and Vyrnwy catchments in particular.

Craig Woolhouse, director of incident management at the Environment Agency, 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. 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.”

This latest band of severe, wet weather to hit the UK comes after storm Abigail left more than 20,000 homes without power and forced schools to close in Shetland and the Western Isles. The Highlands and Islands were worst hit by gusts of 84mph while the rest of the UK experienced thundery showers as a result of Britain’s first named storm.

The bad weather has also had an adverse effect in Glasgow, where the city’s annual event of switching the Christmas lights has been cancelled this weekend.