UK – Evacuations After Heavy Rain and Floods in Northern and Central England

by in News, UK

Update, 09 November 2019:

One person died in the flooding after being swept away by the flooding River Derwent in Darley Dale, near Matlock in Derbyshire. Further evacuations were carried out in South Yorkshire after the River Don broke its banks flooding areas of Fishlake in Doncaster late on 08 November.

Original report, 08 November 2019:

Parts of northern and central England saw around a month’s worth of rain on 07 November, 2019.

Rivers in South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are extremely high and dozens of people have been evacuated. Heavy rain also triggered a landslide in Nottinghamshire where 35 homes were evacuated.

As of 08 November there were 5 severe flood warnings for locations along the River Don in Yorkshire. The Environment Agency has also issued 116 flood warnings and 119 flood alerts, mostly in northern and central England.

Roads have been closed in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, including parts of the busy M1 motorway. Rail transport in South Yorkshire has also been disrupted.

A flooded road in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England 07 November 2019. Photo: South Yorkshire Police

South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said their control operators took nearly 1,200 emergency calls in 24 hours to 08 November, mostly from people trapped in cars or properties. Teams rescued more than 120 people, including many from a shopping centre and neighbouring retail outlets in Rotherham who were stranded by flood water.

In Doncaster, levels of the River Don are at a record high. South Yorkshire Police issued warnings to residents in areas around Doncaster not to leave their homes unless necessary.

On 08 November Doncaster Council said the river has broken its banks in Kirk Sandall and asked people to evacuate their homes. The previous day homes were flooded in the nearby village of Whiston after a small river, the Whiston Brook, broke its banks.

Flooding blocked roads around the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield during the evening of 07 November, leaving shoppers stranded. South Yorkshire Police advised people to remain in the shopping centre until the flooding had cleared.

Flooding from the River Dearne caused flooding in the Barnsley area, including Darton, Lundwood and Low Valley.

Nottinghamshire

Heavy rain caused a landslide in a residential area of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire on 07 November. Residents of 35 homes were evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Rising levels of the River Ryton prompted evacuations in Worksop. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said 25 homes were evacuated.

Derbyshire

Derbyshire Dales District Council has declared an emergency following floods in Matlock and Matlock Bath, where the Derwent river has flooded roads.

Rain and Rivers

The River Don has hit its highest recorded level in Doncaster. As of 08 November it stood at 6.36 metres, higher than the 6.3 of June 2007. The Don has also reached record levels at Kirk Bramwith, a village to the north of Doncaster, where it stood at 7.57 metres on 08 November.

The Environment Agency said the Derwent river in Matlock, Derbyshire, was approaching record levels. As of 08 November it stood at 4.77 metres.

The BBC reported that in a 24 hour period to 08 November, Sheffield recorded 84mm of rain. The average rainfall for the whole month of November in Sheffield is around 80mm.

Further heavy rain and flooding is expected and likely to affect parts of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

Social Media

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