A1 closed as new flooding chaos hits Yorkshire: forecast and traffic info

HEAVY rain caused floods which shut the A1 in North Yorkshire today.
Traffic crawls through flood water both ways on the A1 between the two A6136 Catterick junctions following heavy rain overnight. Highways are working to pump the water away and alleviate the traffic. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyTraffic crawls through flood water both ways on the A1 between the two A6136 Catterick junctions following heavy rain overnight. Highways are working to pump the water away and alleviate the traffic. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Traffic crawls through flood water both ways on the A1 between the two A6136 Catterick junctions following heavy rain overnight. Highways are working to pump the water away and alleviate the traffic. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Downpours overnight across Northern England caused difficult driving conditions and localised flooding on the roads.

The Met Office issued flood warnings for a large swathe of Northern England which were expected to remain in place until late afternoon.

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“That is because of slow moving, and at times, heavy rain circulating around an area of low pressure today,” a Met Office spokesperson said.

“There is some risk of localised minor surface flooding, which could cause disruption to transport.”

That was the case on the A1 near Catterick, North Yorkshire, where flooding closed the northbound carriageway.

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Highways England sent a pump to clear flood water, which also affected drivers heading south. The road was expected to reopen at 3pm.

Flash flooding at Kilton Hill after a stormFlash flooding at Kilton Hill after a storm
Flash flooding at Kilton Hill after a storm

And a dramatic thunderstorm over Bradford on Tuesday night forced the city’s football team to abandon the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Barnsley five minutes before kick-off.

A fan tweeted images of water cascading off a roof of one of the stands, showing the conditions on the pitch were unplayable.

Parts of the city centre were ankle-deep in water.

People took to social media to post pictures of cars gingerly negotiating flood water in Hall Ings, past Bradford’s City Hall.

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The Met Office said finer weather was expected to come in from the west, with drier, sunnier conditions expected for Thursday and Friday.

Driving conditions were hazardous on the M62 between Lofthouse and Ainley Top during this morning’s rush hour.

Surface water was also creating headaches for motorists on the A65 Abbey Road in Kirkstall, near its junction with Vesper Walk.

Weather related traffic problems were delaying bus services in the Heckmondwike area, with the 209, 220, 221, 255 and 268 among those affected.

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Environment Agency flood alerts were in force this morning for the catchments of Wyke Beck, Meanwood Beck and Wortley Beck in Leeds, the River Spen and Batley Beck in Kirklees, Ings Beck in Wakefield and Wash Dike in Pontefract.

Dane Royd Junior and Infant School and Streethouse Junior, Infant and Nursery School, both in the Wakefield area, were closed due to flooding today.

A dramatic thunderstorm over Bradford left parts of the city centre under ankle-deep water last night.

Bradford City’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie with Barnsley was abandoned five minutes before kick-off after the deluge rendered the pitch unplayable.

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People took to social media to post pictures of cars gingerly negotiating flood water in Hall Ings, past Bradford’s City Hall.

West Yorkshire Police used Twitter to warn of isolated flooding in various parts of West Yorkshire, including Pudsey and the Horton Park area of Bradford.

Northern Rail said the weather conditions led to delayed trains in the Leeds area, with services affected by flooding and a lightning strike.

Lightning also sparked a house fire in the village of South Witham in Lincolnshire.