North Wales on high alert as people told to 'take any steps needed' to prepare for flooding
Homeowners and motorists in North Wales have been put on high alert for flooding over the coming hours and days. The warning comes as up to a month’s worth of rain is expected to fall on parts of the region.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is urging residents to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on weather forecasts and flood alerts. The environmental body said today’s heavy rainfall, with more expected tomorrow (Thursday, May 23) could lead to flooding in some areas.
Properties could be “at risk” and surface water may lead to dangerous driving conditions, warned NRW. North Wales is particularly vulnerable, said the agency. No official flood alerts or warnings have yet to be issued but this is expected to change.
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Aimee Thomas-Owen, NRW’s duty tactical manager, said: “We expect significant rainfall this afternoon (May 22) and into the evening, so we could be issuing flood alerts and warnings in the evening and into the early hours of Thursday (May 23). Because of this, we are asking residents to keep an eye for our flood alerts and warnings, which are updated every 15 minutes.”
A “danger to life” amber warning is in place for parts of North Wales and northwest England. The Met Office alert runs for 24 hours until midday on Thursday. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
Neil Armstrong, the forecaster’s chief meteorologist, said many places could see 30-40mm of rain, with some areas receiving 60-80mm. However, higher ground in North Wales could see more than 150mm – the equivalent of more than a months’ worth of rain – before the low-pressure system moves away later on Thursday.
Responding to the threat, NRW’s incident response teams are working with local councils and other emergency responders to keep people and property safe. It said staff were out clearing gulleys and ditches, and checking flood defences are in good shape. Where needed, temporary defences are also being operated.
Residents are now being urged to “consider any steps they may need to take” to be prepared (see below). Anyone needing to travel should take “extra care”, said said Aimee.
She added: “As we could see surface water flooding, we advise people to plan their journeys and to stay updated on travel information. It is crucial that no one attempts to drive or walk through floodwater.
“The force and depth of floodwater can be deceptive and extremely dangerous. Properties could also be at risk, so it is important that people are up to date and act on the latest updates.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
How to stay prepared
Register for NRW’s free flood warning service at naturalresources.wales/flooding. Or you can call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Check the flood warning pages on NRW’s website for flood alerts and flood warnings. These pages are updated every 15 minutes.
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