Flooding nightmare set to return
BUSINESSES and communities across the North West already reeling from the effects of winter floods are being warned of the more storm misery due to hit the UK tomorrow and Wednesday.
The weather front, which caused the worst snow storm in the North East of the US for 100 years, is set to arrive in Britain in the form of heavy rainfall and has sparked the alert.
It is coupled with high spring tides combined with gales and the Enironment Agency said there was a significant flood risk along North West coasts.
Rivers and areas already affected by record river levels throughout the wettest December on record, including Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, are likely to be at risk, with the potential for very heavy rainfall inundating drains and making river levels rise.
Residents are being urged to check their flood risk, be prepared for flooding and be cautious if travelling, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The main areas at risk include communities in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South West as well as central southern England.
Environment Agency teams have been helping communities recovering from the severe floods which hit Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire last month.
Repairs to a breached flood bank along the River Douglas near Croston, West Lancashire are due to be completed this week.
As well as working closely with emergency services, the Agency says is teams will be working round the clock, checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring river levels.
Chris Wilding, national flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Heavy rainfall brings the risk of flooding on Tuesday and Wednesday across the south west, Midlands, Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the potential for high waves along south west and north west coasts.
“Our teams have worked around the clock over the past few months, first responding to the recent floods and then helping support communities with recovery, and we will continue to do so with more heavy rainfall on the way.
“Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered serious flooding over the past few months, and it is once again vital that people prepare for heavy rainfall and the risk of further flooding.
“We will issue flood warnings and alerts where necessary as rivers respond to the rainfall, which could also inundate drains, so people need to be ready for flash flooding in some places.
“We urge people to check their flood risk, prepare for flooding, follow the advice from emergency services and never risk driving through flood water.”
Many places saw record river levels during the recent flooding, including the River Aire in Leeds, the rivers Calder and Ribble, affecting places such as Whalley, Hebden Bridge and Ribchester. A new 24-hour rainfall record of 341.4mm was recorded at Honister Pass up to 6pm on December 5 2015.
