Residents are being warned of a risk of flooding to properties as well as widespread disruption to travel as heavy rain and gale force winds continuing batter Lancashire.
The Environment Agency has issued 10 Flood Warnings and seven Flood Alerts across Lancashire, and we are expecting further heavy and persistent rainfall, together with strong winds.
This changeable weather pattern can alter quickly – with the zone of rain now over most of Lancashire. The ground is already saturated and with river levels already high and expected to rise further, there is a risk of flooding to people and properties, as well as disruption to roads and travel.
Steve Hardy at the Environment Agency said: “We have experienced large rainfall amounts and we’re expecting further heavy rainfall over the next 36 hours landing on saturated ground. We expect significant flooding and urge the public to act now. We have issued a number of flood warnings and alerts and will continue to monitor river levels throughout the day and will update warnings and alerts as the situation changes.
“Flooding can happen very quickly and with catchments already saturated and more rain expected people need to be prepared.”
Throughout the day rivers have burst their banks, gigs have been cancelled, events scrapped and popular venues closed as Storm Desmond hit the region.
Lancashire fire crews warned drivers of the risks of driving during the storm on social media. Alongside a picture of a car stranded in Lancaster, they tweeted: “Water still rising here, don’t risk trying to drive through flooded roads #staysafe.”
Earlier in the day parts of the Guild Wheel were closed and Brockholes Nature Reserve, next to the M6 at Samlesbury, had to close for the day due to a flood warning for the nearby River Ribble. The road to the popular visitor centre was completely underwater.
Flood warnings are in place around the county and a major incident has been declared in neighbouring Cumbria after the rivers Eden and Kent both burst their banks.
Many of Cumbria’s roads are blocked or impassable due to flooding and widespread surface water. In particular roads around Keswick and Kendal are blocked and motorists are being advised not to travel in or out of those areas.
Chair of the Strategic Coordinating Group, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Towler said: “Due to the current weather conditions being experienced across Cumbria, the emergency services are experiencing a high number of flooding related calls. These include a number of rescues of people from vehicles stuck in flood water. Apart from the obvious risk to members of the public, the abandoned vehicles are then causing considerable problems for emergency services when travelling around the county.”
People in parts of Appleby and Keswick have been evacuated from properties and other residents have been advised to consider self-evacuating to stay with family/friends, or to visit their local reception centre for advice and shelter. If you decide to self-evacuate, please inform your family and friends where you are going, and that you are safe, to avoid concerned relatives contacting emergency services.
The Lancashire Hotpots were forced to cancel a gig at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal tonight because of the flooding. In a statement, they said: “Due to severe weather conditions and road surface flooding and closures in Kendal Ufortunately we have no option but to postpone tonight’s gig.”
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather for wind warning, in place from midnight on Saturday until 6am on Sunday.
Gusts are likely to reach 60mph, with forecasters warning of possible travel disruption on roads.
Sarah Leach, entertainments and communications manager for Brockholes, said: “It’s where you drive in at the bottom of our reserve. It’s like a low point on the river and the water’s come across the road.
“We’re on the Environment Agency’s red flood warning.
“Once people are in, when it floods you can’t get them out.”
She said some people had turned up to visit this morning, only to be turned away.
“Just a few really, to be honest, because we made a decision quite early and have done Radio Lancashire this morning and that’s done the trick,” she said.
“I think people just don’t want to come out.”
She said she was expecting it to be business as usual tomorrow, though.
“The thing with the Ribble, it does come up quickly and go down quickly. Fingers crossed we should be open tomorrow.”
The Crafty Vintage Late Night Markets at the reserve was also a victim of the weather as it too had to close for the rest of today.
Laura Johnson, co-founder of the event, which attracts thousands of visitors to the area, said stallholders were informed when they turned this morning.
She said: “It’s just postponed today due to the bad weather. It will be open again tomorrow when the forecast is for blue skies and Father Christmas will be there and Crafty Vintage will be in full steam.
“We’re hoping on Sunday there’s going to be a lull in the weather.”
The event, which was postponed on the advice of the nature reserve, will be open from 10am until 4pm.
The markets feature live entertainment, magic shows, free face painting, a pop-up cocktail bar, an abundance of artisan and street food, together with an eclectic mix of handcrafted gifts, vintage wares, antiques and collectibles.
In Preston this morning, Eastway was closed at Watling Street Road and there was a large flood outside St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood.
Firefighters dealt with flooding on Garstang Road, Preston, after receiving a call at around 10.50am, and they attended an incident on Woodplumpton Road, Preston.
Part of the Preston Wheel 21-mile cycle path around the city was closed due to flooding.
Elsewhere, in the north of the county, firefighters have tackled flooding on Six Arches Lane, Scorton, Dunsop Road, Whitewell and Main Street, Hornby.
The Environment Agency North West tweeted that the Garstang Basin was operated and filled to relieve pressure on River Wyre to protect Garstang and St Michael’s today.
Firefighters used a portable pump to remove the water and called in the utility company to isolate electrical circuits affected by floodwater at commercial premises on North Road, Lancaster, at around 5pm.
Also in Lancaster, two cars with their occupants stranded in floodwater were rescued uninjured by firefighters, who received the emergency call at around 5.50pm.
Shortly after 6.30pm, crews rushed to a car stuck in flood water in Hollins Lane, Forton.
Electrics were affected by flooding on premises on High Street, Garstang. Firefighters attended just after 6.30pm. The same problem affected Main Street, Lancaster, just before 7pm.
In the village of Priest Hutton, just outside Carnforth, firefighers went to a property where electrics were affected by flooding on Upphall Lane, at around 7.15pm.
And they dealt with another car stuck in flood water on Denny Beck Lane, Quernmore, just outside Lancaster, at around the same time.
This evening United Utilities said it was investigating water supply problems in the Lancaster postcode areas LA6/LA2.
The company tweeted and told customers on its website: “You may have noticed that the water is coming out of your tap slower than usual or may have gone off altogether. We have one of our inspectors looking into this at the moment and as soon as we know what the cause of the problem is we’ll let you know.
“We’re sorry about this and will try and get your taps flowing normally as quickly as we can. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we know what’s causing the problem.”
The EA currently has 12 flood warnings and 17 alerts in force in Lancashire.
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