UK – Flash Floods Cause Severe Damage in North of England

by in News, UK

A bridge was destroyed and roads washed away after torrential rain caused flash flooding in parts of northern England on 30 and 31 July, 2019.

A bridge was destroyed by flooding in Grinton Moor, Yorkshire. Photo; Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team

The worst of the damage was seen in the Yorkshire Dales National Park area. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received about 115 calls to flooding in Leyburn and Reeth during the evening of 30 July. A spokesman said: “We had several appliances, as well as our swift water rescue teams and high-volume pumping appliance within the area attending various incidents involving flooded properties and cars stuck in flood water.”

A small bridge over a stream near Grinton was destroyed and a road near Richmond was washed away by the flooding. Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team said via Social Media: “Please note heavy flooding on all roads in the Swaledale area only travel if essential as many routes impassable. Although water levels are slowly easing some bridges are ‘out’ & lots of debris on the roads.”

A landslip on 30 July blocked train tracks between Carlisle and Skipton, disrupting rail travel.

The BBC reported that Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales recorded 3.2 inches (82.2mm) of rain in 24 hours, the majority in the space of four hours. The monthly average in the area for this time of year is 3.5in (89mm).

Heavy rain on 31 July flooded railway tracks between Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, causing severe travel disruption.

As of 31 July, the Environment Agency had 9 flood warnings and 33 flood alerts in place for areas of northern and central England.

More rain is expected and the UK’s Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain in the north of England and western parts of Scotland.

The Met Office said: “Some parts of northern England could see as much as 40-60mm of rain through Wednesday, while thunderstorms could produce as much as 30-40mm in one to two hours.”

Flooding also damaged homes in parts of Yorkshire. Photo; flooding in Grinton Moor, Yorkshire. Photo; Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team

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