Bridges have been destroyed, homes deluged, roads blocked and towns cut off after flash floods devastated parts of England following a month’s worth of rain in just an hour.
Many routes throughout the Yorkshire Dales have been left impassable after 2in (50mm) of rain and hailstones the size of sweets were dumped on the area in what police described as ‘shocking’ travel conditions.
Rescuers reported seeing sheds and oil tanks floating down roads, an ice cream parlour attraction said customers were injured in a freak hailstorm, and the site of a planned mountain biking festival was left devastated.
The violent hail and rain storm which saw 18,000 lightning strikes in a day caused chaos for residents, with a bridge collapsed in Grinton and parts of the railway line between Kirkby Stephen and Garsdale washed away.
Areas of central and northern England will face further heavy rain today with the Met Office warning storms could bring up to 1.6in (40mm) in two hours, while a similar alert for thunderstorms was imposed in Scotland.
There are ten flood warnings in place across the UK – for North Yorkshire, Lancashire and the West Midlands – with the Environment Agency saying local flooding was possible due to the thunderstorms and outbreaks of rain.
Devastating flooding in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales yesterday, with floodwaters washing through homes
The bridge that has been severely damaged over Cogden Gill, in Grinton Moor, North Yorkshire, was a popular viewing spot when riders of the opening stage of the Tour de France crossed it in July 2014
Floods have washed through homes, destroyed roads, vehicles and buildings and trapped animals in fields in the Dales
In less than an hour the rain was pouring off the hillsides, forming rivers through the roads of Swaledale in the Dales yesterday
Jack Stephenson stands in his totally ruined bedroom in his home in Fremington, North Yorkshire, today after the flooding
It follows major flooding in the past few years in Britain in the likes of Cumbria during Storm Desmond in 2015, in York from the Ouse and River Foss in the same year, and the Somerset Levels around the Parrett and Tone in 2014.
The Government has said it is providing £2.6billion to combat flooding over the next six years, delivering more than 1,000 projects to protect 300,000 homes. This is on top of £1billion by 2020 to maintain flood defences.
Emergency services in the Dales urged villagers and tourists to remain indoors, with mountain rescue teams sent to save a man and woman who were stranded 100ft up a cliff clinging on ‘by their fingernails’ at Filey Brigg.
North Yorkshire was pounded by hailstones, while Malham Tarn in the Dales had more than 3.2in (82mm) of rain in 24 hours, most in the space of four hours. The monthly average in the area for this time of year is 3.5in (89mm).
Some areas will face further heavy rain today with the Met Office warning storms could bring up to 1.6in (40mm) in two hours
North Yorkshire was pounded by hailstones, while Malham Tarn in the Dales had more than 3.2in (82mm) of rain in 24 hours
Denise Maxwell stands among the devastation caused to her home in Reeth, North Yorkshire, which was hit by a wall of mud
Residents try to deal with the devastating flooding in Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales after a huge amount of rainfall
A collapsed wall is pictured this morning after being washed away by the flooding in Reeth, North Yorkshire
A car being driven through flood water in Yorkshire today, after parts of the region had up to 82.2mm of rain in 24 hours
A woman walks through floodwater outside Dales Cafe and Cakery in North Yorkshire today following the heavy rain
The main road into Reeth in North Yorkshire is completely blocked this morning following a mud slide in torrential rain
The clear-up begins this morning following heavy rainfall in Grinton, North Yorkshire, as young and old work together
Flood water outside Dales Cafe and Cakery in Yorkshire today, after parts of the region had up to 82.2mm of rain in 24 hours
A man takes a photograph of a collapsed bridge near Grinton today after parts of the region suffered severe rainfall
Homes and buildings were flooded as flash flooding hit part of North Yorkshire after almost a month’s rain fell in four hours
A man looks down at the mud after the main road into Reeth in North Yorkshire was completely blocked this morning
Steve Clough of Swaledale Mountain Rescue said the team responded yesterday at about 4pm to flooding in North Yorkshire and spent over eight hours searching properties in the area, rescuing about ten people.
He said: ‘The conditions were so bad that in the end only about 10 or 12 team members could make it there. The roads were a raging torrent and there were sheds and household oil tanks floating down them.’
Mr Clough added that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service helped many more and estimated ‘100 or more’ homes had been affected. ‘Some homes had a metre of water in them – it was horrific,’ he said.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received around 115 calls to flooding incidents in Leyburn and Reeth yesterday evening as summer storms sweep through the area.
A man drives along a flooded road near Grinton, North Yorkshire, following severe weather that has hit the region
A house is surrounded by floodwater in Yorkshire today following severe flooding that has hit parts of northern England
Jack Stephenson stands in his ruined front room in Fremington, North Yorkshire, this morning following the flooding
A Vauxhall van is driven through floodwater in North Yorkshire this morning following heavy rain that has hit the region
Flooding on a field in North Yorkshire this morning, after parts of the region had an extremely high amount of rainfall
The main road into Reeth in North Yorkshire is completely blocked this morning following a mud slide in torrential rain
A woman has a drink while trying to protect the Dales Cafe and Cakery in Yorkshire from further flooding this morning
Jack Stephenson stands in his ruined kitchen in Fremington, North Yorkshire, after it was hit by a wall of mud and water
Mr Stephenson surveys the scene in his living room in Fremington, North Yorkshire, after torrential weather hit the area
Mr Stephenson holds the fridge-freezer as he stands in his ruined kitchen today at home in Fremington, North Yorkshire
Mr Stephenson walks out of his ruined home in Fremington, North Yorkshire, which was hit by a wall of mud and water
A spokesman said: ‘We had several appliances, as well as our swift water rescue teams and high volume pumping appliance within the area attending various incidents involving flooded properties and cars stuck in flood water.’
Train passengers faced disruption after a landslip between Carlisle and Skipton. Northern Rail said trains had been suspended between Ribblehead and Kirkby Stephen.
The bridge that has been severely damaged over Cogden Gill, in Grinton Moor, was a popular viewing spot when riders of the opening stage of the Tour de France crossed it in July 2014.
It is also on the route of the Men’s Elite Road Race for prestigious UCI World Championships, coming to Yorkshire in September.
A recovery van tries to get through the main road into Reeth in North Yorkshire this morning which has been blocked
Mud was washed from nearby fields, destroying walls and settling across the road in Reeth, North Yorkshire
The clear-up begins today following heavy rainfall in Grinton, North Yorkshire, which has devastated the local area
Fast-flowing water travels past the collapsed bridge following heavy rainfall on Grinton Moors in North Yorkshire
A shed washed away in the flooding in Reeth ended up on a driveway a long distance from where it was fixed today
The clear-up begins this morning following heavy rainfall in Grinton, where almost a month’s worth of rain fell in four hours
Denise Maxwell stands among the devastation caused to her garden in Reeth, North Yorkshire, which was hit by flooding
Ms Maxwell looks out from her front door after her home in Reeth, North Yorkshire, was devastated by the flooding
Ms Maxwell stands among the devastation caused to her house in Reeth, North Yorkshire, which she is mopping up today
Two people look at how a bridge collapsed following heavy rainfall on Grinton Moors in North Yorkshire
Yorkshire 2019 CEO Andy Hindley said: ‘At the current time, our thoughts are with those affected by the flooding. We will address any damage to race routes with North Yorkshire County Council in due course.’
Richard Hay, rescue controller at Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, said: ‘We deployed our members and boats. It was pretty much a rolling incident and we attended around six separate incidents.
‘People were trapped upstairs in flooded houses and we provided welfare checks on them, then our colleagues from the fire and rescue service evacuated them.
‘Businesses in the area will be affected by a loss of visitors. It is the busiest time of the year for tourism and businesses that rely on visitors will lose out because the villages have been cut off.’
People work to clear the area after heavy rainfall in Grinton, with the region still braced for more severe conditions
A close-up view of the collapsed bridge on Grinton Moors in North Yorkshire which was destroyed by the severe weather
Ms Maxwell stands among the devastation caused to her garden in Reeth, which was hit by a wall of mud and water
Ms Maxwell mops up after the devastation caused to her home in Reeth following severe flooding in the area
Jack Stephenson stands in his totally ruined home in Fremington, North Yorkshire, after flooding hit the area yesterday
Mr Stephenson stands in his totally ruined bedroom in his home in Fremington, North Yorkshire, following the flooding
A man drives along a flooded road today near Grinton, North Yorkshire, after parts of the region had extreme rainfall
Rain in North Yorkshire has brought devastation to parts of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale
Flood defences outside Dales Cafe and Cakery in Yorkshire today, after parts of the region had up to 82.2mm of rain
A fast-flowing river goes through the site of a collapsed bridge near Grinton in North Yorkshire this morning
Brymor Ice Cream in Masham, North Yorkshire, said staff treated customers for ‘minor injuries’ after hail shattered parts of its shop roof.
‘The storm that hit the Yorkshire Dales yesterday totally took us by surprise, the deluge of rain and hailstones hit us hard, in literally minutes,’ it said in a statement. ‘We’ve never seen anything quite like this at Brymor before.’
The ice cream maker said power lines, drains and phones were all affected ‘in a very short space of time’ but that it hoped to open again on Wednesday following a ‘clean-up operation’.
Pictures and videos on social media showed widespread flooding across the Swaledale area in the Yorkshire Dales. Roads resembled rivers, with many cars stranded, and fields were under water.
The A555 Manchester Airport Link Road has been closed for a third day in a row this morning due to flooding
Flooding closed the A555 in Stockport, Greater Manchester, after parts of northern England were hit by heavy rain
Flooding has closed the A555 today in Stockport, Greater Manchester, as the north of England is hit by severe weather
A motorist drives along a flooded road near Grinton in North Yorkshire today after parts of the region suffered heavy rain
Sheep are at risk following the devastating flooding at Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales yeterday
The violent hail and rain storms have caused chaos for locals, with a bridge collapsed in the Yorkshire Dales village of Grinton
A man drives a quad bike through the flooding in the Yorkshire Dales following devastating conditions in Swaledale
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received around 115 calls to flooding incidents yesterday
Pictures on the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team Facebook page showed a bridge that had collapsed on the road between Grinton and Leyburn.
The team said: ‘Please note heavy flooding on all roads in the Swaledale area only travel if essential as many routes impassable. Although water levels are slowly easing some bridges are out and lots of debris on the roads.’
A mountain biking event due to take place in Reeth at the weekend has been cancelled due to the flooding.
The organisers of Ard Rock said they were ‘heartbroken’ and advised visitors not to travel to the site.
The event team said on Facebook: ‘Flash flooding in the Swaledale valley has flooded roads, homes, land and submerged the Ard Rock site.
‘Right now we are doing everything in our power to ensure our team on the ground is safe, and we can support all those who need help.
‘The rainfall and situation is unprecedented in this area. Access to the area is blocked by emergency services from all roads. Please do not travel.’
Farmer Raymond Caldert told BBC Breakfast that the flooding in Grinton was the worst he had ever seen and, if the festival due to take place next weekend had been running, lives could have been lost.
He said: ‘I haven’t seen anything like this. We had a storm here about 20 years ago, called Hurricane Charlie. I think this has been worse.’
He said the Ard Rock festival site would have been devastated. ‘It could have been worse for loss of life. If they had been here, it would have been devastating.’
Mr Caldert added that he had not lost any livestock but the flood washed away most of his 160 bales of silage.
A collapsed bridge near Grinton in North Yorkshire today after parts of the region suffered severe flooding
Water flows through the site of the collapsed bridge near Grinton in North Yorkshire today following severe rainfall in the area
A bridge collapsed as flash flooding hit part of Swaledale in North Yorkshire after almost a month’s rain fell in four hours
Cars had to be abandoned in Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales following the extreme rainfall in the summer storms
A horse eats from a hay bale as it stands in the muddy terrain following in Swaledale following the terrible flooding
A man pours water out of a building in Swaledale following extreme flooding in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday
Flash floods have devastated parts of the Yorkshire Dales after a month’s rain fell in just an hour, destroying bridges
Many routes throughout the Dales were left impassable today after 2in (50mm) of rain and hailstones the size of sweets
A fridge and washing machine are seen in the garden of a property in Grinton, North Yorkshire, following severe flooding
The Met Office said: ‘Rain will be persistent and heavy in places across parts of central, northern and eastern England and north-east Wales at first on Wednesday.
‘During the day rain may turn more showery in places but with a higher chance of thunderstorms by afternoon.
‘Some parts of northern England could see as much as 40mm to 60mm of rain through Wednesday, while thunderstorms could produce as much as 30 to 40mm in one to two hours.’
The weather is a stark contrast from last Thursday when Britain recorded its hottest day on record, with 101.7F (37.7C) in Cambridge, breaking the previous record of 101.3F (38.5C) set in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.
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