Flood alert as weather warning is put in place
TOWNS and cities across West Yorkshire are being told to stay on alert as heavy downpours could cause rivers to burst their banks.
The Environment Agency has issued a total of seven flood alerts across the region, while the Met Office has put a yellow weather warning for rain in place until Tuesday.
The Colne and Holme rivers and Fenay Beck are all at risk of bursting their banks, affecting Huddersfield, Primrose Hill and Armitage Bridge.
The River Spen and Batley Beck could cause issues in Heckmondwike, while Sowerby Bridge is also an area under threat.
People in Brearley and Luddenden Foot were initially told to take ‘immediate action’ yesterday morning as major flooding was expected in the two villages.
“River levels are forecast to rise as a result of persistent heavy rainfall,” said a message on the Environment Agency website.
“Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is possible. The area most at risk is Tenterfields Business Estate.
“Further rainfall is forecast over the next 12 hours and we are closely monitoring the situation.”
A major mudslide cancelled all trains on Saturday between Lancaster and Skipton. The agency has now extended the yellow warning until at least 3pm on Tuesday.
The weather forecaster warns on Monday and Tuesday:
Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely.
Bus and train services will probably be affected with journey times taking longer.
Spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer.
A Met Office spokesman said: “An area of heavy rain is expected to move north east over large parts of England and Wales later Monday into Tuesday.
“The more persistent rain will probably ease on Monday night but bands of heavy showers are likely to follow on into Tuesday.
“Through the period, 20-40mm of rain could fall quite widely with perhaps as much as 70mm over high ground in Wales and northern England.
“With the ground having been left wet by heavy rain in the area this weekend, some flooding is likely.”
However, the Environment Agency has since suggested that the flood warning may be lifted this evening if the rain eases.
The weekend’s heavy rainfall also saw a car completely submerged under water in Lower Hopton, West Yorkshire, while the UCI Road World Championships had to deviate from its planned route due to the unprecedented rainfall.