Thousands of homes at risk from Christoph

THOUSANDS of properties were at risk of flooding yesterday as Storm Christoph caused “significant” rainfall across large swathes of the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to chair a Cobra crisis meeting yesterday, after major incidents were declared in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Cheshire.

There were amber and yellow weather warnings in force until today for the storm, which was also threatening to bring snow to northern areas.

Up to 3,000 properties in Greater Manchester were at risk of being affected by flooding, according to Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey, who said that areas of Didsbury, Northenden and Sale near the River Mersey could potentially be affected by flooding, with a peak expected at 11pm yesterday.

He said: “The worst-case scenario, estimated by the Environment Agency, is that it could impact on up to 3,000 properties across all the areas I have mentioned to varying degrees. This is a significant incident in terms of disruption to people and those people have been advised with regard to action to take.”

Downing Street has said Covidsecure facilities will be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Preparations to create Covid-secure rest centres have been made. They have been made by relevant agencies as a precautionary measure.”

More than 120 millimetres of rain had already fallen in parts of the country by yesterday afternoon, with 123.42mm at Capel Curig in North Wales in the 24 hours up to 2pm yesterday. Areas in Glamorgan and Cumbria also topped 100mm over the same period.

Some 70 flood warnings were issued by the Environment Agency across England, with 192 less severe flood alerts, mainly across the Midlands and the north of the country. Almost the whole of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were subject to yellow weather warnings for rain until midday today, with a more serious amber warning stretching from the East Midlands all the way to the Lake District.

The amber alert warns of the risk of flooding and deep floodwaters which could pose a risk to life, and there are further yellow warnings for snow and ice in Scotland.

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge described Christoph as “quite a slow-moving system” which is bringing “a variety of weather” to the UK.

The meteorologist added: “While rain remains the main hazard in the south, further north we’ve got snow and ice remaining a risk. We are expecting significant totals of rainfall, and when you combine that with snow melt it can lead to localised flooding across the affected regions.”

Rail services were also disrupted on the Northern network, after tracks flooded. There were suspensions on services from Carlisle to Skipton or Maryport, all destinations from Rotherham Central, and between Manchester and Newton le Willows.

Trains were also subject to disruption between Leeds and Manchester, Salford Crescent and Preston, and on a number of other routes.