An amber weather warning for rain has been issued for parts of Derbyshire – with the region also on alert for flooding. The Met Office warned of “persistent and heavy” downpours on New Year’s Eve.
The warning came into force at just after 8.30pm on December 31 and was due to remain in place until 9am on New Year’s Day. The Met Office said heavy rain is “likely to lead to disruption including flooding” in some locations.
Derby City Council said on Tuesday night that Cathedral Green footbridge had been “closed and taken off the river” due to concerns about flooding. The council said: “A Yellow Flood alert is in place and we will provide further updates when they are available.”
The Met Office’s amber warning for rain, which covers Derbyshire as well as parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, says: “Persistent and, at times heavy, rain will continue overnight before clearing southwards on Wednesday morning. 40-50 mm rain is expected fairly widely, with 50-100 mm across west-facing hills. There is a chance a few locations could see in excess of 100 mm.”
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: “It will be a tricky couple of days and a wet and windy spell for many up into the new year. We’re encouraging anyone who is planning to travel to keep up to date with the weather forecast and news from their local authorities.”
An amber weather warning issued by the Met Office is in place for parts of north Derbyshire, including Glossop, on New Year’s Eve night into New Year’s Day morning
(Image: Met Office)
The Environment Agency had issued 11 flood alerts for waterways in and around Derbyshire as of 9.30pm on New Year’s Eve, meaning that flooding is possible.
The warning for the Lower Derwent said: “River levels are forecast to rise at the Matlock river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall overnight in to Wednesday. Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is expected to begin between 00:00 and 06:00 tomorrow, January 1.
“Areas most at risk are low-lying agricultural land and roads including Darley Dale, Cromford, Matlock, Whatstandwell, Belper, Duffield, Milford, Little Eaton, and the B5057 between Darley Bridge and Two Dales Road.”
The Environment Agency said it expected river levels to begin rising at around 10pm on New Year’s Eve, with heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours.