The Environment Agency has issued red 'act now' flood warnings for parts of Yorkshire following torrential rainfall overnight. Residents in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire have been told to prepare as flooding is expected.
The areas most affected include Hebden Bridge and surrounding towns and villages. Lesser amber alerts, meaning flooding is possible, have also been issued for Lower Calder Valley and coastal areas including Staithes to Whitby.
East Yorkshire coastal towns Skipsea, Hornsea, Mappleton, Withernsea, Easington and Kilnsea are also under amber alert. Hornsea faces an additional red warning alongside the broader Yorkshire alerts.
National flooding emergency
According to reports, 44 red flood warnings have been issued nationwide across England and Wales as of Sunday morning. An additional 80 amber flood alerts are in place following Saturday's torrential rainfall.
The scale of the emergency extends beyond Yorkshire, with flooding having affected nearby Salford and Manchester overnight. Water levels were reportedly stabilising or dropping in Greater Manchester locations by Sunday morning.
Transport disruption
The M62 near Huddersfield has experienced lane closures due to flooding conditions. The widespread nature of the flooding has created transport challenges across the affected regions.
Emergency response coordination
Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency are monitoring the situation with Flood Wardens "prepared" and "additional resources on standby if necessary". Flood sirens have not been sounded due to ongoing uncertainty about conditions.
Last night saw 84 UK locations under flood alert, with 37 of them located in Yorkshire. This demonstrates the particular concentration of flood risk in the region during this weather event.
Met Office wind and rain warnings remain in place as authorities continue to assess the developing situation.
Sources used: "Yorkshire", "Express", "Chronicle Live", "Manchester Evening News"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
