Storm Franklin causes flooding, evacuations and huge transport disruption across Greater Manchester

This is the third named storm to hit the UK in a week.

River Mersey, South Manchester, where two severe flood warnings were in place overnight
Author: Becky CahillPublished 21st Feb 2022

Storm Franklin has sparked evacuations in Greater Manchester and caused widespread rush-hour travel disruption, with train operators warning customers not to travel amid gale-force winds and flooding.

National Rail told people "do not travel" as it said the first services on most routes were cancelled, while there is a reduced timetable for Monday, alternative travel is unavailable and further disruption is expected.

Train operator Northern posted a photograph on social media showing the rail line through Rotherham station flooded to the extent that the tracks are not visible.

There was s severe disruption on many of its routes, including between Sheffield and Manchester, Scarborough and Hull, York and Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds, Chester and Manchester, and Carlisle and Newcastle.

Stretches of the M60 in Greater Manchester and the M6 in Lancashire were closed due to incidents during the storm, including a lorry that hit a bridge and caught fire.

A post on the Lancs Road Police Twitter account said: "High winds caused this HGV to hit a bridge and burst into flames on M6.

"Driver luckily escaped from cab with help from other motorists and is being assessed at hospital.

"Long delays both N+S between J27/28."

Thousands of homes in the UK are still without power due to Storm Eunice, and Storm Franklin is complicating recovery efforts.

Environment agencies earlier issued hundreds of alerts for flooding across the UK, including two rare "severe" warnings where rainfall could also pose a "danger to life" for communities along the River Mersey in Greater Manchester's East Didsbury and West Didsbury and Northenden. Dozens of people opted to evacuate their homes and spend the night at Didsbury Mosque, where food was provided.

But on Monday, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said emergency evacuation operations had been stood down in Didsbury.

She wrote on Twitter: "Thankfully after the peak at 4am, emergency evacuation operations on the ground were stood down and we got through the night without any flooding or damage to properties.

"Thanks again to everyone involved and to the hundreds of residents who were impacted."

Last week marked the first time three named storms have been recorded within seven days since the storm-naming system began in 2015, with Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.