Flood alerts issued in Greater Manchester as day of torrential rain forecast
Two flood alerts have been issued in Greater Manchester today, with the region set to be battered by torrential rain all day.
The alerts cover parts of Stockport, Sale, Altrincham, Urmston, and Bramhall around the Middle River Mersey.
They also include parts of the River Mersey Uplands catchment including Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne, Denton, Stalybridge and Glossop.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain all day today, and is forecasting a 90% chance of rain right through to the evening.
River levels in the Mersey are expected to rise today as the deluge continues.
The Environment Agency has warned: “Avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses and do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water.”
Meanwhile the Met Office’s weather warning says there’ll be ‘heavy rain leading to a small chance of flooding and disruption.’
The weather agency says there’s a chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, and driving conditions made difficult due to spray and flooding.
Read more: Manchester United have stripped huge poster of Cristiano Ronaldo off Old Trafford
They also warned that cancellations and delays on trains and buses are likely if flooding does occur.
There are three levels of flood warnings – alert (prepare), warning (act), and severe warning (survive).
This is what the Environment Agency says you should do if you receive the flood alert that’s in place for many in Greater Manchester today:
- sign up for flood warnings
- keep up to date with the latest flood risk situation – call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter for the latest flood updates
- have a bag ready with vital items like insurance documents and medications in case you need to leave your home
- check you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies
- plan how you’ll move family and pets to safety
Featured image: Unsplash