UK – Storm Christoph Floods Prompt Evacuations

by in News, UK

Storm Christoph brought heavy rain to parts of the UK from 19 January, 2021, increasing river levels in parts of North Wales and the North West of England.

The UK’s Met Office said:

“Storm Christoph brought some heavy, and at times record breaking, rain to parts of the UK. Provisional figures show Honister, in Cumbria, received 123.8 mm of rainfall on Tuesday (19th Jan), a new daily rainfall record for this winter and 2021. However, it was well short of England’s all time January daily rainfall record of 180.4mm set in 2005.

Provisional figures also show the 19th was the wettest January day for Rochdale (46.8mm), Preston (43.6 mm) and Stonyhurst, Lancashire (43.8mm) since 1954. While parts of Cleveland, in North Yorkshire received more than their average January rainfall over just 2 days, the 19th and 20th.”

Around 2,000 families evacuated their homes in parts of Manchester and Merseyside, England, and Wrexham in North Wales after heavy rain from Storm Christoph caused rivers to rise overnight, 20 to 21 January 2021.

Media in UK reported further evacuations in Warrington (80 people) and a 48 people from a care home in Northwich. Five people were rescued from floods in Bewsey, Warrington.

Roads were closed in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire, where 5 people were rescued from trapped vehicles and some train services suspended.

Around 80 people were evacuated after eight streets were left under water in Skewen, Neath Port Talbot, Wales. Flooding was said to be related to mine works in the area.

Rivers

The Mersey at Northenden, Manchester, reached 3.27 metres on 21 January, where minor flood stage is 1.8 metres. At Sankey Bridges in Warrington, the Mersey reached 4.54 metres, where minor flood stage is 3.8 metres.

Mersey River at Northenden, Manchester, UK, January 2021. Image: Environment Agency
Levels of the Mersey River at Sankey Brook, Warrington, UK, January 2021. Image: Environment Agency

Meanwhile in North Wales, the Dee River at Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham, reached its highest ever recorded level of 16.46 metres on 21 January.

River Dee at Bangor on Dee, Wrexham, Wales, UK, January 2021. Image: Natural Resources Wales

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