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A major incident has been declared in Cumbria after some residents were forced to evacuate their homes in towns effectively cut off by flooding.
Cumbria Police officers and mountain rescue teams are helping to take people from their homes in Keswick and Applebyto the centre in a local school.
They added that all roads surrounding Keswick are now closed, having been badly affected by the flooding – especially the A66.
In a statement they said: “Motorists are advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary as it would pose a major risk to personal safety and the safety of other members of the public.”
Chair of the Strategic Coordinating Group, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Towler said emergency services were taking a high number of flooding-related calls, including a number of people needing to be rescued from vehicles stuck in flood water.
He added: “Apart from the obvious risk to members of the public, the abandoned vehicles are then causing considerable problems for emergency services when travelling around the county.”
The Met Office warns that the situation in Cumbria is likely to get worse during the afternoon and into the night, with Cumbria expected to see more than 150mm of rain before it clears southwards during the early hours of Sunday.
“In view of flooding and further disruption to transport being expected take action to remain safe and protect property,” it said in its red warning for Keswick.
Severe flood warnings, which warn of a danger to life, have been issued by the Environment Agency for the town – along with Corbridge in Northumberland.
Police have also warned drivers to avoid all roads in and around Kendal, where reception centres are open and residents may decide to evacuate their homes by themselves.
Eighteen severe and 94 flood warnings for elsewhere in the north of England have also been issued by the Environment Agency.
In Scotland, Desmond has already caused flooding and a landslides, closing roads some roads. Flood warnings have been issued for the majority of its rivers.
A 15-mile stretch of the A82 was shut after at least 200 tonnes of debris slipped from a hillside above Altura in the Highlands. Several areas of the road were also flooded.
Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said Scotland, northern England, Ireland and northwest Wales would “remain wet all day”.
“The winds will be disruptive and damaging today as well, with gusts up to 60mph for inland areas, and maybe in excess of that around exposed coasts and across hills.”
Bear Scotland, which operates trunk roads in the region, said staff were out overnight dealing with numerous reports of flooding, debris on the road and fallen trees.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams saying that anyone driving in Scotland on Sunday may continue to be faced with “extremely challenging conditions” – possible flooding, wind damage debris and more high winds.
“Motorists encountering floodwater on the road should think twice before trying to drive through. Water getting sucked into engines can cause catastrophic damage which could lead to a frightening repair bill at the most expensive time of year or even an insurance write-off.
“If you are at all unsure how deep a flood is, the best advice is to err on the side of caution and take another route.”
Highways England issued a severe weather alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles in the north.
The A66 was closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles between junction with the A67 near Bowes in County Durham and the A685 at Brough in Cumbria.
The A19 Tees Viaduct in Middlesbrough was closed to high-sided traffic in both directions between the A66 and A1046 after reports of strong winds. There are local diversions.
In Dublin, some UK and international flights were cancelled and customers were advised to visit airline or Dublin Airport websites for further flight information.
Travel disruptions are expected along Scotland’s west coast on Scottish ferry network Caledonian MacBrayne.
Trains have also been affected between Preston and Carlisle, Newcastle and Carlisle, Skipton and Carnforth, Skipton and Carlisle, Carlisle and Whitehaven, Preston and Barrow-In-Furness, Oxenholme Lake District – Windermere.
Courtesy of Sky News
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