FLOOD alerts have been put in place, and people living near rivers warned to be prepared, as water levels begin to rise due to heavy rain.
Alerts have just been issued for the upper catchment areas of the River Aire, extending from the Yorkshire Dales to Crossflatts and taking in Skipton, Steeton, Silsden and Riddlesden, and the River Calder, from Todmorden to Brighouse, with river levels expected to peak this evening.
The Environment Agency has said flooding is possible in these areas, adding: "We could start to see a river response to the rainfall from lunchtime, with levels currently forecast to peak later on this evening."
On the River Aire the agency says: "The current forecast is not indicating that rivers will reach flood warning levels. We are however, expecting washlands in the Upper Aire Catchment to start to fill."
On the River Calder, it says: "We are currently using lower triggers for warnings in parts of Calderdale, to account for damage to walls and banks next to the river, caused by the flooding in December. Based on the current forecast there is potential for these lowered triggers to be reached in Walsden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd from lunchtime onwards, the issue of these warnings will be supported by site observations. We have Field Team staff in the area with the Military carrying out inspections, checking temporary defences and monitoring levels."
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