Severe weather warning issued for the weekend as more heavy rain forecast

This is its highest level of alert and indicates a “possible danger to life”.

The Met Office has issued a amber warning for more rain and potential flooding in West Yorkshire this weekend. However, Cumbria has been highlighted as the area at the most risk.

Such heavy rain on already saturated ground is likely to lead to flooding from standing water or from rivers bursting their banks, the Met Office warns.

And because of the already wet ground, flooding could impact certain areas, the Met Office said.

THE first snow of the winter has fallen on the region as heavy rain elsewhere prompts flooding warnings.

Two 24ft (7.3m) long, high-volume water pumps have been dispatched to Cumbria, which are capable of pumping 120,000 cubic litres of flood water a minute, the equivalent of more than 30 Wembley Stadiums.

On Saturday morning, two flood warnings were in place – for Keswick Campsite in Cumbria, and for the River Ouse at Naburn Lock, south of York – but there were also 45 flood alerts.

Phil Welton, flood risk manager for Northumberland, Durham and Tees, said: “River levels across northern England are already high and are expected to rise with this further heavy rainfall, bringing with them a risk of flooding”.

The weather warning in is place for the whole weekend and it is thought there could be up to 20 centimetres of rainfall in parts over a day-and-a-half.

Maria Ullyart Environment Agency flood resilience advisor and community engagement for Cumbria said: “We have been experiencing some very wet weather over the last few days, river and lake levels remain high”.

Six of the severe warnings have been issued for Egremont and five for Kendal.

PEOPLE are being warned severe weather is set to hit the area this weekend.

Natural Resources Wales said it was keeping a close eye on the Dyfi, Elwy, Conwy and Vyrnwy catchments in particular.

The worst of the weather is due from Saturday evening through to Sunday. “This includes erecting temporary flood barriers to protect areas at risk in St Asaph and Llanrwst”.

A spokesman said the company’s website, northernpowergrid.com, had an easy-to-use power cut reporting service which customers could use to log their power cut and get updates.