Wild Weather Strikes North East
Severe weather affects North East.
Severe weather's affecting the North East - but you'd probably gathered that already. We have an Alert from Highways England for high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles. The A66 was closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles between the junctions of the A67 near Bowes in County Durham and the A685 at Brough in Cumbria. The A19 Tees Viaduct in Middlesbrough was closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles in both directions between A66 and A1046, due to strong winds. Local diversions are in place.
The Met Office said: "Be prepared for the likelihood of flooding affecting properties and parts of communities. Watercourses may become dangerous, deep and fast-flowing, while some transport disruption seems likely.'" Its chief forecaster warned that the spell of heavy rain and strong winds would be prolonged''. Forecasters said rainfall of 2.4in to 3.9in (60mm to 100mm) is likely quite widely in the amber zones, with some mountainous areas seeing in excess of 5.9in (150mm) over a 30-hour period, perhaps even reaching 7.9in (200mm).