'Danger to life' flood warning after a month's worth of rain falls in 24 hours

28 October 2021, 12:28 | Updated: 28 October 2021, 17:12

Water rises high in Cockermouth after rainfall causes flooding in Cumbria

By Daisy Stephens

Cumbria has experienced flooding overnight after being deluged by heavy rain, with more forecast over the coming hours.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

An amber weather warning is in place in Cumbria has heavy rain is set to lash down until midnight tonight.

The amber alter warns warns of "danger to life from fast flowing or deep floodwater" as well as "damage to some buildings"and the possibility that communities "may be cut off by flooded roads".

There are currently 10 flood warnings and 16 flood alerts in place for Cumbria where the Environment Agency have advised some residents to move family, pets and valuables to a "safe place" and turn off gas, electricity and water supplies.

Burneside resident Karen Stewart told LBC it was normal for roads to be closed due to flooding, and said that floods often result in "raw sewage" coming up through the drains.

She said the flood barriers "mean nothing at all", saying the water would "still get in".

She added that, whilst the water level had gone down overnight, more rain - as is forecast - would cause even more floods.

Cumbria resident speaks to LBC about flooding

Cumbria Police warned that some roads may be impassable, while at around 6am on Thursday South Lakes police tweeted that the A591 Rydal to Grasmere road was not passable "due to the depth of flood waters in several locations" and urged people not to take unnecessary risks and only to travel if they really need to.

Flooding in Ambleside, Cumbria

Photos shared on social media show entire roads blocked off by floodwater, with police and other organisations advising motorists to avoid affected areas.

Read more: Met Office warns of deadly flood risk as 'unbelievable' rain lashes parts of UK

Entire jetties were submerged on Bowness-on-Windermere.

Flooding in Bowness-on-Windermere

Police said this road near Grasmere was completely unpassable
Police said this road near Grasmere was completely unpassable. Picture: South Lakes Police

Cumbria has seen a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.

The Met Office said 332mm of rain had fallen in Honister Pass over the past 32 hours.

Seathwaite saw 271mm over the same period, whilst Thirlmere saw 145mm.

In a tweet, the Met Office warned of more flooding and advised people to stay aware.

Stuart Mounsey, flood risk manager for the Environment Agency in Cumbria, advised people on how to stay safe.

"We've had over 12 inches of rain in the Central Lake District over the last 24 hours," he said, speaking from Keswick in a video posted to social media.

He said there were 16 flood alerts and 9 flood warnings across Cumbria, and urged people to "be prepared and ready to act".

"We would also urge people to stay safe by not driving through floodwater and also keeping away from the rivers," he added.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

High Street, South Norwood, London.

Investigation launched by police watchdog as man lost consciousness after being restrained by officers

Marco Rubio - Benjamin Netenyahu meeting in Jerusalem

Netanyahu praises Trump's 'bold vision' for Gaza

Chickens, poultry, on free-range chicken farm

Tens of thousands of birds culled at farm after suspected bird flu case

ynthia Erivo attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 16, 2025 in London, England.

Stars stun on the red carpet at 2025 BAFTAs

The head of Ofsted said children in England feel going to school is optional since the pandemic, as their parents opt to work from home instead of going to the office.

Parents working from home makes kids not want to go to school, Ofsted chief says

Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal arrives at Molinuex

Millionaire Premier League star earning £150k a week loses HMRC court battle over hundreds of thousands in unpaid tax

Actress Kim Sae-ron attends 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards at Asia World-Expo on December 1, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

South Korean ‘Bloodhounds’ and ‘The Man from Nowhere’ star Kim Sae-ron found dead at 24

Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'Screaming, shouting, crying': Landlady breaks silence after woman shot dead at village pub - as manhunt continues

Exclusive
Jonathan Reynolds told LBC’s Iain Dale that NATO is ‘a highly effective integrated defensive structure’, and that US requests for higher European spending on the alliance are ‘not unreasonable’.

Europe must ‘work closely’ with US to face Russia, Business Sec tells LBC ahead of emergency Ukraine summit

.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025

Gloves off: Three fights in first nine seconds as USA beat Canada to reach 4 Nations ice hockey final

Exclusive
Europe must boost defence spending if it wants peace, Ukraine's former PM has told LBC.

‘If you want peace, pay for it', says ex-Ukrainian PM as Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and boost defence spending

Lucy Letby was ‘shocked and distressed’ during the investigation into the deaths of babies that she was later found guilty of murdering, and ‘deserves an Oscar’ if she was lying, her former boss said.

Lucy Letby was 'innocent', distressed and ‘deserves an Oscar if she was acting’ says former boss

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Friday November 22, 2024.

Cheltenham-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan dies aged just 24 after fall in race

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets With Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves At Downing Street

Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and call for increased defence spending ahead of meeting with Donald Trump

images shared on social media show police arresting a man following the attack.

'Laughing' Syrian asylum seeker who stabbed boy, 14, to death was motivated by 'Islamic terrorism'

Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for 52 years.

FBI joins investigation into Southport killer amid claims he wiped internet search history