Met Office expects further downpours and warns of high winds in northern half of UK

This article is more than 6 months old

This article is more than 6 months old

Snowfall in Scotland could make driving difficult and lead to people slipping on icy surfaces, the Met Office has warned, as roads were closed across the UK because of flooding.

A third consecutive weekend of stormy weather brought further flooding to already sodden areas, and strong winds of up to 75 mph were expected to affect swathes of the northern half of the UK, as large parts of south Wales and northern and central England grappled with the impact of storms Ciara and Dennis

The Met Office predicted belts of heavy rain, high winds and snow in places across the weekend, while warning of more to come, but said the weather system had not been named as a storm because it was not yet severe enough.

The Environment Agency has 74 flood warnings in place, as well as 150 flood alerts, covering areas from Wiltshire to Cumbria. Two severe flood warnings – meaning an imminent danger to life – for the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop, near Hereford, were removed on Saturday afternoon.

However, flooding was reported across the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales on Friday night, with the village of Horton in Ribblesdale cut off by rising water.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) Please don't attempt to drive through flood water. It's just not worth the risk!! https://t.co/k6GYTl1Hw8

North Yorkshire fire and rescue service tweeted: “We have two crews from Settle, Grassington and a water rescue team from Ripon in Horton in Ribblesdale which is currently surrounded by flood water. Crews are checking residents and ensuring everyone is safe.”

The service also said it had helped four people to safety from a stranded vehicle in Skipton, as well as helping with flooded properties in the village of Giggleswick.

Six floods in five years: life in Yorkshire's Calder valley Read more

North Yorkshire police said the A65 between Gargrave and Settle was impassible due to flooding on Friday night, and Tadcaster Albion’s game against Marske United in the Northern Premier League was postponed after the pitch was submerged by water for the third time in a fortnight.

Tadcaster Albion (@TadcasterAlbion) Here we go again!

Yet another flood...#cryinglikefrank😢 pic.twitter.com/MNS3oUAK2B

The damage wreaked by Storm Dennis last weekend and Storm Ciara the week before is projected to run into the billions to repair, and at least six people have died as a result of the extreme weather.

Forecaster Marco Petagna said Saturday would bring respite from the rain in some areas but there was a warning for high winds in the north and another band of stormy weather would sweep in from the south-west during the night.

Yellow weather warnings were issued for rain in parts of Wales with 60mm (2.36in) in total expected in some upland areas, wind for the northern UK and snow for northern Scotland.

Prince Charles visited Pontypridd in south Wales on Friday, which has been badly hit by the floods. It is estimated that 1,100 properties – both residential and commercial – have been affected in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Prince Charles visits Pontypridd, Wales. Photograph: Chris Jackson/PA

Caroline Douglass, the director of incident management at the Environment Agency, said: “This will be the third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather. With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this.

“People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through flood water.”

The agency said river levels had exceeded existing records with the Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent among the many rivers where records have been broken.

England has already received 141% of its average February rainfall so far, and some areas have experienced a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.