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22
Jan 2024
Storm Isha hits Harrogate district
Strong winds battered the Harrogate district last night and continued to cause problems throughout the day. Our live Storm Isha blog below provided updates throughout the day.
2.40pm: Quieter night expected — but winds to pick up again
The latest Met Office forecast shows winds abating tonight although it will remain very blustery. Tomorrow night, however, is expected to see gusts of up to 51mph.
The number of local flood warnings has been reduced. There is currently a warning for the River Ure camping and caravanning site at Boroughbridge and less severe flood alerts for the lower River Ure at Ripon and the lower River Nidd catchment area.
12.48pm: Newby Hall miniature railway flooded
Newby Hall's miniature railway looks more like part of the boating lake this morning.
The stately home between Ripon and Boroughbridge has posted a video on its Facebook page of the flooding, along with the message:
"The River Ure is so high this morning it’s completely covered our railway. The Ure is one of many rivers that drain the dales into the River Ouse."
12.01pm: Masham road closed
The A6107 has been closed by police at the bridge entering Masham, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive Martin Mann has posted on social media.
11.01am: River Ure high in Ripon
Two photos indicate how high the River Ure is in Ripon. The first, put on social media by Tom Bulmer, shows the water level high on the bridge. The second, sent to us by Richard Taylor, co-chair of Ripon Civic Society, shows the metal sculpture of a soldier and horse on the flooded North Bank up to their necks in water. They can just about be spotted.
Pic Tom Bulmer
10.21am: Northern Powergrid says power restored to 84% of homes affected
Northern Powergrid, which distributes electricity for eight million people, has said in a statement about 32,479 customers have been affected by the storm so far. It added:
"We have, however, successfully restored power to over 25,260 customers, and we are working as quickly as possible to get the remaining customers' lights back on.
"Our teams responded quickly and have already managed to reconnect 84% of customers who have been impacted. We will keep customers updated regularly via text message, on our website and on our social media channels. "
It added Northumberland, which recorded the highest gust of 99mph, had been most affected.
9.25am: High local river levels
River levels are high on the Nidd at Knaresborough and Hunsingore, the Ure at Ripon and Boroughbridge, as well as the Crimple and Swinney Beck at Masham, according to the government. The middle reaches of the Nidd don't currently appear too high. You can find out more here.
7.31am: Rail passengers 'encouraged to check'
Rail operator Northern hasn't issued any specific alerts to trains on the line passing through Harrogate and Knaresborough this morning but has said:
"Storm Isha is expected to cause disruption to our network, so we’re encouraging customers to check before they travel this evening and tomorrow morning."
7.11am: Dishforth Road closed
Dishforth Road in Sharow, which had been described as 'impassable' on social media, has just been sealed off by the sign and cones at the dip near the sewerage pumping station. Signs and cones are in place. Drivers must now divert using Berrygate Lane.
6.50am: Gusts hit 56mph at Greenhow Hill
Nationally, the highest gust of wind recorded so far is 99mph at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland. Locally, gusts have hit 56mph at Greenhow Hill, near Pateley Bridge.
6.02am: Flooding expected along Ure
A Met Office weather warning is active until Wednesday.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings, which means flooding is expected, for the River Ure at Boroughbridge camping and caravanning site and for the River Ure at Masham.
The Boroughbridge update, issued at 4.52am today, said:
"River levels continue to rise at Westwick Weir and Boroughbridge as a result of heavy rainfall associated with Storm Isha.
"Flooding is affecting locations near the River Ure with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around Boroughbridge Camping and Caravanning Site. The river should peak this afternoon,"
The Ure at Masham warning, issued just before 1am, says:
"Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Ure, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around Masham including properties on Mill Gate, Marfield Quarry and off the A6108. Flooding is expected in the early hours of Monday."
Less severe flood alerts are in place for the lower River Ure at Ripon and for the upper and lower Nidd catchment areas.
There are unconfirmed reports online of Dishforth Road at Sharow, which is notoriously prone to flooding, being "impassable".
National Highways posted on social media last night that the A66 was closed in both directions between Scotch Corner and the M6 because of strong winds."
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