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2019 Yorkshire Dales floods

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In July 2019, parts of the Yorkshire Dales, in North Yorkshire, England, were subjected to above average rainfall for the time of year. The flash-flooding that followed affected many communities destroying bridges, sweeping roads away, causing landslips on railway lines and resulting in at least one public event being cancelled. The flooding even inundated the fire station in the town of Leyburn, in Wensleydale, whilst the crew were out helping those in need. The recovery took many weeks and months, with immediate help by the rescue services being bolstered by British Army personnel who assisted with the clean up.

2019 Yorkshire Dales Floods
before and after shots of a stone built barn by a beck, showing the scour differences and damage caused by the flood
Grinton Smelt Mill post June 2019 floods.
The image at the top shows the Mill and Barrel-Arched Watercourse in September 2018. The lower image is post-flooding, taken in March 2020.
Date30 July 2019
LocationArkengarthdale, Swaledale, Wensleydale
Deaths0
Property damageExtensive

The flood was described as being a 1-in-100 year event with one newspaper report later describing the conditions as being "monsoon-like weather".

Background

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Meteorological history

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Average annual rainfall in the Pennines is 59 inches (1,500 mm) which drops away at the east coast where the average is 24 inches (600 mm).[1] The Pennines are known to be part of the rain shadow in the United Kingdom; this is due to the prevailing westerly winds dropping precipitation on the western side of the country and leaving the eastern side drier. Comparisons can be made between Manchester, on the western side of the Pennines, and Sheffield on the eastern side. These two cities are 35 miles (56 km) apart,[2] and 128 feet (39 m) and 433 feet (132 m) above sea level respectively. Manchester's average rainfall is 33.8 inches (858 mm) and Sheffield's is 31.6 inches (802 mm).[3] Between the two cities is the Peak District, which has the same effect as the Pennines, dropping more rain on the west than on the east.[4] Of the top ten rainiest cities or towns in England, only Huddersfield, in Yorkshire, is on the eastern side of mainland Britain; the rest are on the west side of the rain shadow.[note 1][6]

The wettest location in the Yorkshire Dales is Snaizeholme (near to Widdale) 1,900 feet (579 m) above sea level, and where the average annual rainfall is 77 inches (1,957 mm).[7] The Yorkshire Dales (and the Howgill Fells) have suffered historical flooding in 1870,1890, 1899[8] and 1986 (Hurricane Charley).[9] The floods of January 1890 swept away the bridge over the Swale at Gunnerside.[10]

Peak flooding has also been recorded in the 1940s, the 1960s and the 1980s. Flash floods have affected the area throughout the 21st century, with events occurring in 2009,[11] in June 2012,[12] and September 2012 which closed the A1 road.[13] In 2016, a flash flood inundated the White Scar Caves visitor centre.[14]

Most of these flood events have been described as "intense, highly localized convectional summer storms, under anticyclonic conditions, or by slow moving or near-stationary fronts."[15] This can be seen in the fact that the area where the water fell, was concentrated in a 4-mile (6.4 km) radius around the town of Reeth; places like Bellerby and Leyburn suffered as a result of rainfall elsewhere, whereas Richmond, 10 miles (16 km) to the east,[16] was described as having no rain at all on the day of the floods.[17]

Most flooding events in Britain have been the result of a climatic condition known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO-) when it has been in a negative phase, which can lead to wetter seasons.[18] Records indicate that the River Swale has had 145 flash flood events between 1700 and 2013.[19] Flooding in Swaledale, Wensleydale and Nidderdale, usually results in flooding on the River Ouse in York.[20][21]

Physical causes

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On the 30 July 2019, the Yorkshire Dales and east Cumbria regions experienced extreme above average rainfall from what is typically expected in the summertime. Malham Tarn in the Craven District of Yorkshire, typically receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain as a monthly average; on the 30 July 2019, 3.2 inches (81 mm) fell in a 24-hour period, with most of that actually falling within four hours.[22] Langthwaite in Arkengarthdale, was stated to have received 5.2 inches (132 mm) in two hours,[23] and Arkle Town received 4 inches (102 mm), with 3.2 inches (82 mm) of that falling in 90 minutes.[24]

Over 7.7 square miles (20 km2) of land around the village of Reeth, was listed as having been inundated with over 2,100,000 litres (460,000 imp gal; 550,000 US gal) in just under five hours. A report later stated that this was enough water to fill over 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.[25]

The same weather front caused flooding in South Manchester, East Cheshire and Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire which lead to the town being partly evacuated in case the damaged reservoir failed and caused an extreme flood event.[26]

Effects and responses

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The valleys of Arkengarthdale, Swaledale and Wensleydale were badly hit with flooding, though most of the damage caused by the flooding was in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. At least 13 footbridges were swept away and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of footpaths were damaged, eroded completely or covered in debris. More than a dozen rights of way were still closed by the end of December 2019.[27] Park Rangers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park expressed their dismay at the event, stating that Storm Desmond wreaked such devastation that they thought they wouldn't see the likes of it again.[28] The Settle and Carlisle railway line was subjected to a landslip between Ribblehead and Dent railway stations.[29] Whilst this was rectified relatively quickly, buses replaced trains for two days whilst the landslip was dealt with.[30]

The bridge over Cogden Gill on the Grinton Moor road between Grinton and Leyburn was destroyed by the flash floods.[31] Further upstream, part of the grade II* listed Grinton Smelt Mill (the barrel-arched watercourse)[32] was destroyed by the floodwater, and leaving the main building in danger of becoming unstable due to erosion by floodwater.[33] The bridge on Grinton Moor had been made famous by featuring in the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France.[34] A bridge that spanned the same stream on the B6270 between Downholme and Grinton, was weakened and became unsafe to drive over and additionally, part of that road was washed away.[35][36] Extreme flash flooding affected properties in Reeth, Leyburn, Fremington, Grinton, Bellerby, Middleham and Langthwaite.[37][38]

One farmer in Reeth had to rescue his sheep from a tree which had been carried there by floodwater "12-foot (3.7 m) deeper than normal."[39] One woman who was watching the water from her cottage in Arkengarthdale, stated how she saw the water approaching Langthwaite. A huge surge of water was observed "..taking the [drystone] walls down, one by one, in the valley. It was unbelievable - they were like dominoes. Then it hit Grinton and Reeth."[40]

Whilst no deaths were reported, there were some injuries and close-calls; the landlady of the Red Lion Inn in Langthwaite was in her pub when water came in with such force that it was 5 feet (1.5 m) deep and leaving her submerged up to her chin.[41] A postal worker on his rounds and another man rescued a 92-year old woman who had fallen into a "waist-high stream of water" in her back garden.[41] Pets and livestock were killed and crops ruined.[42] Many houses and other buildings were completely ruined by floodwater ingress. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service stated that they had received 115 calls to reports of flooding in Leyburn and Reeth and that over 100 homes were flooded out with sheds and oil tanks floating down roads inbetween houses.[43] The fire station in Leyburn suffered from extreme flooding whilst its crew were out helping those who were affected by the water. The building was renovated and repaired, and was able to be re-occupied by December 2019.[44]

The Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) went to help people caught in the flooding, including one family who were trapped upstairs in their house. When the team entered the property, the fridge was floating on the water and touching the ceiling of a downstairs room.[45] By the end of the day, the SMRT had effected the rescue of ten people.[30]

The Ard Rock off-road cycling event, that is held annually in Grinton over the first weekend in August, had to be called-off as the campsite, and main showground, were submerged underwater.[46] The organiser's later awarded the charity clean-up fund almost £50,000.[47] The flooding of the River Swale on the other side of Grinton, inundated the Dales Bike Centre at Fremington, with water pouring off the moor through Grinton Beck flooding properties there, including the Bridge Inn, which had its access footbridge swept away by flood water.[48]

Aftermath

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When the clean up started on 31 July, personnel from the British Army were drafted in to help.[49] The troops from the 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment were understood to have been asked by their commanding officer to assist in the clean-up operation rather than being called in by the authorities.[50] More than 300 homes, 30 businesses and 50 farms were flooded out, many of whom were assessed as being "..low wages, low fixed-pension incomes, tenant hill farmers or small businesses" and so were deemed as having little, or no, "financial resistance".[51]

 
Cogden Gill temporary bridge looking south
 
The repaired 2021 Bridge at Cogden Gill on the C106

A week after the event, the local MP announced that the bill to repair roads, bridges, footpaths and buildings could be as high as £3 million,[52] for what was described as a 1-in-100 year event.[53] A temporary bridge spanning Cogden Gill on the B6270 was in place and ready for traffic by 14 August 2019;[54] similarly, the bridge on the C106 on Grinton Moor was given a temporary replacement with an effort starting in repairing the old bridge structure and location.[55] However, further torrential rain in September 2019 prevented the location being used by the 2019 UCI Road World Championships.[56] A treasure chest of £3 million was released to North Yorkshire County Council under the Bellwin scheme for the repair of the two ruined bridges.[57]

Also in September 2019, DEFRA revealed a £2 million fund for farmers who had been affected by the flooding in the Yorkshire Dales and Lincolnshire.[58] At the end of September 2019, residents in Grinton were still waiting for remediation to be carried out on the beck that drops down the southern edge of the dale, and into the River Swale. A house at the bottom of the beck was in danger of collapsing into the water, and a "wait and see" scenario was being undertaken.[53] In October 2019, the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) held a Reeth Wallathon to help repair many broken boundaries in the fields; they managed to rebuild over 720 feet (220 m).[59]

Businesses in Leyburn were still just re-opening some six months after the flooding. The local newspaper, the Darlington and Stockton Times, said the effects of the flash-flooding were long-lasting and described the event as "monsoon-like weather".[60]

In February 2020, the local authority's application for extra funding was refused by the government as the flash-flooding was not deemed severe enough in terms of damage to properties and livelihoods. The response stated that "we normally expect that the local authorities have well established contingency arrangements in place such as funding from existing budgets and the resources to respond and support local communities. We appreciate that this would come as disappointing news, but we would not be able to extend this funding to flooding outside of this."[25]

Also in February 2020, many of the communities and valleys listed above, suffered further flooding in Storm Dennis and Storm Ciara.[61]

The new bridge over Cogden Gill carrying the B6270 Richmond to Grinton road, was opened to traffic in November 2020. Both it, and the bridge over Cogden Gill on the Grinton to Leyburn road, had temporary bridges installed by the council. The second bridge (on the road to Leyburn), was expected to open soon after,[62] and was unveiled in March 2021.[63][64]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The full list is Cardiff, Glasgow, Preston, Huddersfield, Blackpool, Carlisle, Plymouth, Manchester, Gloucester, Liverpool.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "North East England: climate" (PDF). metoffice.gov.uk. October 2016. p. 6. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Sheffield - Manchester route would be first major cross-Pennines link since M62". ITV News. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ Taylor, Ian; Evans, Karen; Fraser, Penny (1996). "PartI: Past and Contemporary Contexts". A tale of two cities : global change, local feeling, and everyday life in the North of England : a study in Manchester and Sheffield. London: Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 0-415-13828-0.
  4. ^ Stockham, Alexander J.; Schultz, David M.; Fairman, Jonathan G.; Draude, Adam P. (April 2018). "Quantifying the Rain-Shadow Effect: Results from the Peak District, British Isles". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 99 (4): 777–790. Bibcode:2018BAMS...99..777S. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0256.1.
  5. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (18 October 2014). "Britain's rainiest cities revealed – and it's good news for". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. ^ Ottewell, David (17 October 2014). "Revealed: Britain's wettest cities - and Manchester barely makes the top 10". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  7. ^ Wheeler, Dennis (July 2013). "Regional weather and climates of the British Isles - Part 4: North East England and Yorkshire". Weather. 68 (7): 184–190. Bibcode:2013Wthr...68..184W. doi:10.1002/wea.2081.
  8. ^ "The Swaledale Flood". The York Herald. No. 15,009. 17 July 1899. p. 5. OCLC 877360086.
  9. ^ Barnard, Ashley (1 August 2019). "Communities pull together to recover". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. ^ Speight, Harry (1897). Romantic Richmondshire : Being a complete account of the history, antiquities and scenery of the picturesque valleys of the Swale and Yore. London: E Stock. p. 253. OCLC 7241488.
  11. ^ "Floods spark caravan parks rescue". BBC News. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Dales car rescues during floods". BBC News. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  13. ^ "North Yorkshire hit by flooding". BBC News. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  14. ^ "'Exceptional' flood closes show cave". BBC News. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
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  18. ^ Foulds, Simon A.; Macklin, Mark G. (February 2016). "A hydrogeomorphic assessment of twenty-first century floods in the UK" (PDF). Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 41 (2): 256–270. Bibcode:2016ESPL...41..256F. doi:10.1002/esp.3853.
  19. ^ Archer, David; O'Donnell, Greg; Lamb, Rob; Warren, Sarah; Fowler, Hayley J. (22 February 2019). "Historical flash floods in England: New regional chronologies and database". Journal of Flood Risk Management. 12 (S1). doi:10.1111/jfr3.12526.
  20. ^ Macdonald, Neil; Black, Andrew R. (13 October 2010). "Reassessment of flood frequency using historical information for the River Ouse at York, UK (1200–2000)". Hydrological Sciences Journal. 55 (7): 1152–1162. doi:10.1080/02626667.2010.508873. S2CID 129449371.
  21. ^ "Vital bridge finds itself in troubled waters". The Yorkshire Post. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  22. ^ Davies, Gareth (31 July 2019). "UK weather: Bridge collapses and roads washed away as flood warnings continue to midnight". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  23. ^ "What caused the flash flooding in North Yorkshire?". BBC News. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  24. ^ Parry, Simon; Mastrantonas, Nikos; Lewis, Melinda; Clemas, Sandie (August 2019). "Hydrological summary for the United Kingdom: July 2019" (PDF). nrfa.ceh.ac.uk. p. 1. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  25. ^ a b Minting, Stuart (19 February 2020). "'Wrong type of flooding' for government funding". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  26. ^ Kendon, Mike (28 August 2019). "Heavy rainfall July 2019" (PDF). metoffice.gov.uk/. p. 1. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  27. ^ Chapman, Hannah, ed. (6 December 2019). "Dales floods clear-up donation given". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 49–2019. p. 5. ISSN 2516-5348.
  28. ^ Newton, Grace (15 August 2019). "Twelve bridges washed away and paths destroyed: The true cost of the Yorkshire Dales flash flooding". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  29. ^ Mohdin, Aamna (31 July 2019). "Cleanup begins after downpours cause flooding in Yorkshire Dales". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  30. ^ a b Behrens, David (1 August 2019). "It came in like a waterfall...I went under up to my chin". The Daily Telegraph. No. 51,072. p. 5. ISSN 0307-1235.
  31. ^ Gleeson, Janet (9 August 2019). "Building bridges on the road to recovery". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  32. ^ Historic England. "Grinton Smelting Mill and Watercourse (Grade II*) (1318580)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  33. ^ Lloyd, Chris (21 September 2019). "Before and after pictures: the floods that washed away 200 years of Yorkshire Dales leadmining history". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  34. ^ Bowman, Verity (31 July 2019). "Yorkshire bridge collapse could force route rethink for Road World Championships". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Dales bridge washed away by severe floods - drivers urged not to travel". The Northern Echo. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
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  37. ^ Fox, Alexa (20 January 2020). "MP seeks further funding to help Dales flood victims". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  38. ^ Phillip, Sedgwick (27 March 2020). "Summer flooding caused £7m of damage to homes". Darlington and Stockton Times. No. 13–2020. p. 8. ISSN 2516-5348.
  39. ^ Barnett, Ben (1 August 2019). "True scale of floods devastation laid bare in the Yorkshire Dales". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  40. ^ Behrens, David (18 January 2020). "A toast to the women who got a devastated pub in The Dales back on its feet". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  41. ^ a b Chapman, Hannah, ed. (20 December 2019). "Flood-hit pub working flat out to reopen for Christmas". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 51–2019. p. 5. ISSN 2516-5348.
  42. ^ "Army called in after flash flooding devastation". BBC News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  43. ^ Marano, Rebecca (31 July 2019). "Sheds and oil tanks float down roads as Yorkshire copes with extreme floods". The Yorkshire Podt. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  44. ^ Sedgwick, Phillip (13 December 2019). "Fire crew return to station after floods". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 50–2019. p. 6. ISSN 2516-5348.
  45. ^ Barnett, Ben (10 October 2019). "Rural Awards 2019 - Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team appeal launched by The Yorkshire Post after Dales floods". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  46. ^ "Ard Rock endurance cycle event cancelled because of floods". The Northern Echo. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  47. ^ Willis, Joe (17 September 2019). "Ard Rock organisers hand over almost £50,000 to help flooded Dales communities". Richmondshire Today. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  48. ^ Fox, Alexa (24 January 2020). "Race's return set to boost flood-hit Dales". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 4–2020. p. 3. ISSN 2516-5348.
  49. ^ Baynes, Chris (31 July 2019). "Flood warnings issued and army called in as bridges collapse amid torrential rain". The Independent. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  50. ^ Burgess, Kaya (1 August 2019). "Yorkshire flooding: army called in to deal with destruction". The Times. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  51. ^ "Dales must get same flood funding as South Yorkshire'". infoweb.newsbank.com. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  52. ^ "Flood-hit bridge and road repairs 'may reach £3m'". BBC News. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  53. ^ a b Wood, Alex (30 September 2019). "Fears house in Yorkshire Dales could collapse following flood damage". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Flood-hit Dales road reopens ahead of schedule". Harrogate Informer. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  55. ^ "Bridge now in place in flood-hit area of Swaledale". ITV News. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  56. ^ Smith, Peter (29 September 2019). "Bad weather forces changes to elite men's race at Yorkshire's UCI Road World Championships - updates". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  57. ^ "MP Richi[sic] Sunak: Flood money 'enormously welcome'". BBC News. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  58. ^ "Defra opens £2 million fund to restore flood-affected farmland". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  59. ^ "Walls destroyed in floods rebuilt by volunteers". BBC News. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  60. ^ Sedgwick, Phillip (7 February 2020). "Shop reopens, six months after devastating floods". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 6–2020. p. 8. ISSN 2516-5348.
  61. ^ Gleeson, Janet; Fox, Alexa (14 February 2020). "Storm brings back flood nightmares". Darlington and Stockton Times. No. 7–2020. p. 6. ISSN 2516-5348.
  62. ^ Mitchinson, James, ed. (1 December 2020). "Bridge lost to flooding reopens to traffic after long rebuild". The Yorkshire Post. p. 6. ISSN 0963-1496.
  63. ^ Chapman, Hannah, ed. (5 March 2021). "Rebuilt Dales[sic] is back open". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 2021–09. p. 4. ISSN 2516-5348.
  64. ^ "Yorkshire Dales: Collapsed bridge reopens after flood repairs". BBC News. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
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