Live blog: Concern over river levels as Sheffield is on flood watch
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Environment Agency has issued a number of flood alerts, warning people that flooding of property and roadways is possible starting at 2pm.
Areas most at risk are Meadowhall and Carbrook, with river levels expected to remain high throughout today and overnight, into Monday (February 21).
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe water level at the River Don has also almost touched the bridge, according to a photo given to The Star.
The EA said they are closely monitoring the situation as their incident response staff are closely monitoring the forecast on a 24-hour basis.
It also urged people to avoid using low lying footpaths near watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.
A rushing torrent can also be seen near Sheffield' s railway station.
A number of flood alerts have been issued for Sheffield earlier, meaning flooding is possible.
Live blog: Concern over river levels as Sheffield is on flood watch
Key Events
- Flooding of property and roadways possible starting at 2pm
- Risk of flooding as the River Don continues to rise
- Millhouses Park closed due to flooding concern
- Tram services suspended
Sheffield Wednesday: Effort to help protect Hillsborough Stadium - water begins to break barriers as flood 'expected'
Staff at Sheffield Wednesday have been working hard to prevent damage at its Hillsborough Stadium amid an Environment Agency warning that flooding at the ground is ‘imminent’.
A number gathered at the ground to ‘sandbag’ areas beneath the South Stand, an area of the stadium that has previous fallen foul of flooding in 2019 and most memorably in 2007, when the Wednesday playing surface was entirely covered in water.
Water levels are not forecast to get anywhere close those levels, but could breach the defence walls built to protect the South Stand concourse.
Sheffield flooding: Here are some of the dramatic pictures captured as rainfall persists
These pictures show the scale of the flooding across Sheffield following a number of weather and flood warnings from experts who predicted exceptionally high rainfall.
Check out the pictures here.
Storm Franklin set to batter the UK from Sunday night as yellow warning for wind remains in place for Sheffield
Storm Franklin has been named as the low-pressure system that is expected to bring high winds on Sunday night and into Monday morning for much of the UK, including Sheffield.
The latest storm follows on from a week in which Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice also impacted the UK, although wind gusts from Storm Franklin are expected to be lower than those from Eunice, which triggered two Red Weather Warnings.
Northern areas of Northern Ireland are covered by an Amber Wind Warning that will be in force from early Monday morning. Within the Amber Warning area, winds could be in excess of 80mph in exposed coastal areas, but more widely between 60 and 70mph. Damage to buildings is possible, and there’s likely to be travel disruption.
An extended Yellow Warning for wind, which covers much of the rest of the UK except the northeast, has also been issued for Storm Franklin. Within the yellow warning area, wind gusts will be 65-75 mph in coastal areas and 50-60 mph further inland.
In Sheffield, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind following Storm Eunice’s departure on Friday night.
Sheffield flooding: Watch video as torrent of water floods down River Sheaf through Millhouses Park
The River Sheaf through Millhouses Park has become a raging torrent this evening as a torrent of water floods down from the hills above Sheffield.
The city council has closed off the play area and advised members of the public to stay away from the park as a whole.
Many of the paths have been flooded and the river has become dangerous.
One dog walker told me he had driven back from Manchester Airport to Sheffield this afternoon and many of the roads through the Peak District had been flooded or were becoming impossible.
“It makes you wonder how people can say climate change doesn’t exist when you see this,” he said as the torrent of water rushed past.
Millhouses Park has flooded many times in the past most tragically in June 2007 when teenager Ryan Parry lost his life in the waters.
Sheffield flooding: Hillsborough Stadium first property expected to flood
Sheffield Wednesday FC Hillsborough Stadium is expected to flood as river levels at the River Don continue to rise on Sunday.
The Environment Agency said flooding of property and roads is now ‘imminent’, with the first property expected to flood being the Owls’ homeground.
Properties on Rawson Spring Road are also likely to be among the first affected.
In an update published at 4.44pm, it said: “We expect River levels to peak later this evening but remain elevated overnight into tomorrow, 21/02/2022.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and our incident response staff are closely monitoring the forecast.
“Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.
“Consider putting your flood plan into action. Please report any property flooding on 0800 80 70 60. This message will be updated by 0:40 on 21/02/2022, or as the situation changes.”
Meadowhall Road in Sheffield is currently closed at the junction with Barrow Road and also at J34 of the M1
Rotherham Central will be closed from the start of service on Sunday 20 February as heavy rain is expected to cause severe flooding
Network Rail has made the pre-emptive decision to divert trains around Rotherham Central Station on Sunday 20 February based on current Environmental Agency river level readings. Heavy rain and rising river levels are expected to leave the tracks submerged by water.
Northern services between Doncaster and Sheffield will still run, but will divert around Rotherham Central. Tramtrain services won’t run between Tinsley and Parkgate, but will divert via Meadowhall.
Before the lines can reopen, the water levels will have to drop significantly so Network Rail engineers can carry out safety inspections. Floodwater can dislodge ballast, the stones which support the track, and cause damage to lineside electrical equipment. Any debris which has washed up on the railway will also need to be removed. All of this work will need to be completed before train services are able to resume in this area.
However, by acting before any flooding hits the station, Network Rail engineers are planning on removing critical infrastructure from the ground to reduce the impact of flood damage, and hopefully reopen the station sooner.
A decision on when to reopen the station will be taken once the extent of the flooding is known, but the closure could run into the early part of next week.
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail, said: “As we have seen across much of the network this week, severe weather brings severe challenges for the railway. We have taken the pre-emptive measure to close Rotherham Central as river levels are already rising due to heavy rain and we are expecting the water to rise over the tracks.
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly and have done so with the safety of our passengers and train staff in mind.
“We would like to reassure passengers that we’ll be doing all that we can to get them moving again and we thank all those impacted for their patience.”
The continued adverse weather is expected to continue to cause disruption on many lines across the weekend. Passengers are strongly urged to check their journey before travelling, which they can do via National Rail Enquiries or by visiting www.northernrailway.co.uk or www.stagecoachbus.com/supertram.
WATCH: Sheffield park flooded following heavy rain
This video footage shows Sheffield park being inundated in water as a result of heavy rain since Sunday morning.
Coronation Park in Oughtibridge was flooded at around 4pm following the persistent rainfall.
The floodwater has also overflowed to Oughtibridge Sports Club, which is located next to Beeley Woods and the river.
The sports pavilion at the club has also been left under water.