Flood defences overrun as Ciara hits region
Widespread flooding and gale force winds up to 93mph recorded with roads and railways forced to close Storm brings chaos across region
WIDESPREAD FLOODING and winds of more than nearly 80 miles per hour caused severe disruption across Yorkshire as Storm Ciara battered the UK this weekend.
Torrential rain saw large areas of the Yorkshire
Dales and the Calder Valley flooded, with Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge and Mytholmroyd particularly badly affected as flood defences installed after the 2015 Boxing Day floods failed.
In North Yorkshire, there was extensive flooding in Hawes town centre and roads across Wensleydale. Hill farmer Amanda Owen, known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, who posted a video of a trailer being washed away, described the power of the storm as “unreal”.
On the coast, officials were on high alert as waves crashed over the South Bay, in Scarborough.
The weather caused chaos on the roads, with the Humber Bridge closed to all traffic for only the second time in its history.
Rail operator Northern cancelled more than 140 trains across the North, with speed reductions on many other services. Dozens of flights were cancelled, including a number at Leeds Bradford Airport.
IT WAS described as a “quite exceptional storm” and one that many had not seen the like of in years.
And in Yorkshire and across the rest of the UK Storm Ciara made itself felt, bringing flooding and widespread transport chaos as torrential rain and 90mph winds pummeled much of the country. Gusts of 93 miles per hour were recorded at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, in North Wales, while Cumbria saw 151.8mm of rain in 24 hours.
A number of areas of Yorkshire suffered in the horrendous conditions, with 75mph gusts recorded at Emley Moor, near Huddersfield, and flooding across large areas of the Dales and Calder Valley.
There was flooding in Hawes town centre and roads across Wensleydale, while in Swaledale a sheep trailer was filmed being carried downstream after being washed away from a farm.
Several streets in Hebden
Bridge, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge and Mytholmroyd were flooded, with some areas completely cut off by rising water.
Halifax’s Piece Hall had to be evacuated, while the engine shed at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway flooded and the stables at Catterick Racecourse were at risk after the Swale burst its banks.
As flooding hit critical levels, World War Two era sirens sounded in areas including Halton in Leeds.
Dale Bowes, 24, told The Yorkshire Post: “It’s absolutely some of
the worst weather we’ve ever had. The storm this morning was really bad.
“The siren was put in after the flooding in 2007, because residents didn’t get a warning. It’s the first time I’ve heard it go off and it’s really good to have that warning this time.
“It was really bad this morning and it looks like the river is at the highest level it’s ever been. A lot of people have said they couldn’t get to work because the roads were blocked by trees or floodwater.”
Nationwide more than 200 flood warnings were issued, including one rated severe at Pateley Bridge, in North Yorkshire, meaning there is a danger to life, along with around 200 alerts.
A North Wales Twitter user shared footage of rough seas flooding roads and bringing water to his front door on Tremadoc Bay in Criccieth, Gwynedd. “This is quite an exceptional storm and I haven’t seen wind this strong for quite a few years,” 58-year-old company director Gethin Jones told the PA news agency.
At one point, the P&O Pride of Hull ferry was forced to wait in the Humber Estuary for several hours after being unable to dock in Hull.
Passenger Lee Turnbull reported that many of those on board had seasickness but that
the crew had provided free food and drinks.
Ferrybridge Services on the M62 were forced to close when the site suffered a full power failure, while the railway lines between Leeds and Harrogate, Skipton and Carlisle and Todmorden and Burnley were all blocked.
Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Luke Pollard said: “The reality of the climate crisis is that more extreme weather will happen more often and with devastating consequences.”
He called for extra spending to protect vulnerable communities from extreme weather.
I haven’t seen wind this strong for quite a few years.
Company director Gethin Jones in North Wales.