Residents are being urged to take care after a flood alert was issued for the River Tees.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for icy conditions on New Year’s Day. The weather service also issued a second weather warning for snow for over the weekend.
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the low lying land in the Lower Tees Valley, from Middleton St George to the Tees Barrage, including Lustrum Beck, Greatham Beck and the Riverside footpaths at Yarm.
A spokesperson said: “River levels continue to remain high and the gates at Croft and Yarm remain closed. Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Lower River Tees and estuarine tributaries, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around riverside footpaths and low lying land and roads. Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water. We are monitoring rainfall and river levels.”
Meanwhile the Met Office is warning of icy conditions across the region from 4pm on January until 10am on Thursday, January 2. The warning covers. Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton.
The Met Office warned that “heavy snow may cause some disruption over the weekend”, with the yellow warning in place from Saturday until 9am on Monday, January 6. The snow warning covers the whole of Teesside.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for icy conditions
(Image: sima – stock.adobe.com)
The weather service said icy surfaces on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths may result in difficulty travelling and there is a risk of injury from slips and falls. A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “A band of rain, sleet and hill snow will clear southwards during Wednesday afternoon and evening. As skies clear in its wake, and with standing water following earlier rain in places, ice is likely to form quite quickly on untreated surfaces, leading to difficult travel conditions. Wintry showers are also likely along some north-facing coasts overnight, increasing the chance of ice in places.
What should I do?
- Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.
- If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.
- Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
- Be prepared for weather warnings to change: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.
As well as flood warning for the Lower River Tees, they are also in place for the Upper River Tees near Barnard Castle, the River Gaunless near West Auckland, River Wiske and other tributaries of the River Swale, Lower River Swale and Upper River Swale.
Relentless heavy rain has also hit Yorkshire causing almost 100 flood warnings and 82 flood alerts today. There have been reports of cars being submerged, people trapped in floodwater and rivers overflowing.
It looks like North Yorkshire is facing the brunt of the heavy rainfall with many roads impassable as rivers and becks swell leaving communities cut off until the water subsides. There are 98 flood warnings currently live and 82 flood alerts active.
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