There remains a significant risk of flooding after heavy rain from Storm Christoph falling on already saturated ground led to exceptionally high river levels, affecting parts of the North West of England and Yorkshire, according to the Environment Agency.
The agency is working round the clock with its partners to help reduce the risk, with over 9,000 properties in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire already protected from flooding.
Teams are operating flood defences, flood storage reservoirs and putting up temporary barriers where needed to help protect communities.
As of 1:30pm on January 21, there are three severe flood warnings, meaning that flooding poses a significant risk to life or significant disruption to communities, 175 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 194 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible.
People living in the North West of England and Yorkshire are being urged to prepare for the risk of significant flooding into the weekend.
The public should sign up to flood warnings and check the latest safety advice.
‘Exceptionally high river levels’
Craig Woolhouse, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said:
“Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected, and our teams are working round the clock, deploying temporary flood defences and closing flood barriers, and so far have protected over 9,000 properties.
Exceptionally high river levels brought on by last night’s rain could continue to affect parts of the northwest of England today and may also bring flooding to parts of Yorkshire today and Friday, with a risk of damage to buildings in some communities.
“There’s also a chance of localised flooding of land and roads across parts of the south of England on Saturday due to further rain.”
