Live Blog: 'Do not travel' warning issued as Sheffield is battered by storm
and live on Freeview channel 276
The city remains on flood watch this morning after days of persistent rain that saw river levels across the city rise yesterday.
And as of Monday morning (February 21), over 17 flood warnings and six flood alerts have been issued for Sheffield.
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Hide AdStorm Franklin is to blame for the bad weather, which came after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc earlier in the week.
It is however forecast to have lesser wind gusts than Eunice, which prompted two Red Weather Warnings.
Passengers have been advised to avoid travelling if possible, with buses being diverted and train services being cancelled.
The tracks at Rotherham Central railway station have also been flooded, preventing trains from calling there for the rest of the day.
Follow this live blog for more weather and travel updates.
Live Blog: River levels dropping and flood warnings expected to be lifted today
Key Events
- Severe weather conditions due to Storm Franklin
- Passengers advised not to travel
- ‘Mini tornado’ reported in Doncaster
- Flood warnings expected to be lifted today
Avoid travel before 10am on Monday
TransPennine Express (TPE) is strongly urging customers travelling north of Preston to avoid travel before 1000 tomorrow (Monday 21 February), due to disruption caused by Storm Franklin.
Services are subject to speed restrictions, delays and cancellations due to the extreme weather and as a result are very busy.
In addition to the severe weather, TPE is running an amended timetable today (Sunday 20 February) with a significant reduction in services as a Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union strike action is taking place. As a result of both the strike action and Storm Franklin, TPE is calling on customers to consider if their journey is necessary and to avoid travel if possible.
Customers planning an essential journey or travelling on any other TPE route should check carefully, right up to the last minute, as services may be subject to short notice changes and potential delays and cancellations. Customers should also allow extra time for journeys as the services may be busier than normal.
Tickets from Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20, will be accepted for travel on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February.
Paul Watson, Operations Director for TransPennine Express said: “Due to the impact of Storm Franklin, train services are disrupted along the West Coast Mainline.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our priority and we are warning customers not to travel between Preston and Edinburgh/Glasgow until after 10am tomorrow.
“Anyone planning on travelling by train today or before 10am tomorrow can choose to defer their travel or claim a refund.”
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.
See what it was like yesterday here.
M1 Sheffield closed: motorway shut and queuing traffic in both directions due to incident
The M1 is closed in both directions near Sheffield this morning due to an incident.
Both the north and southbound carriageways around Junction 34 – for Tinsley and Meadowhall – are affected.
Motorway cameras at 6.30am showed severe congestion.
South Yorkshire Police has been contacted for details on the incident causing the closure but details have not yet been provided.
The Tinsley viaduct is often closed to high-sided vehicles during windy spells.
Sheffield flooding: buses, trams and trains affected as river levels rise across city and surrounding areas
Buses, trams and trains are delayed or cancelled this morning as rising river levels and flooding take their toll on Sheffield and surrounding areas.
A photograph of Rotherham Central railway station shows the tracks under water, with trains unable to call there for the rest of the day.
British Transport Police said: “Rotherham station resembles the canals of Venice! Wind and rain is having an impact on the network this morning with delays and cancellations in place, the advice is to check before you travel.”
Read more here: Sheffield flooding: buses, trams and trains affected as river levels rise across city and surrounding areas
Storm Franklin: Sheffield battered by gale force gusts and heavy rain as flood threat remains
Sheffield is being battered by Storm Franklin this morning, with the city waking up to gale force gusts and heavy rain.
The low-pressure system is expected to bring high winds into Monday morning for much of the UK.
It follows on from a week in which Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice also wreaked havoc, although wind gusts from Storm Franklin are expected to be lower than Eunice which triggered two Red Weather Warnings.
Read more here: Storm Franklin: Sheffield battered by gale force gusts and heavy rain as flood threat remains