The aftermath of UK floods brought on by severe rain over the New Year is being felt in thousands of homes nationwide. Overnight downpours that swamped homes, trapped vehicles, and endangered inhabitants were recorded as a serious occurrence in Greater Manchester.
Mountain rescue crews teamed with firefighters to help others caught in cars and flooded homes. About 500 people from a Didsbury hotel evacuated due to flooding; authorities quickly carried out their plans.
The lower floor and car park were buried, so residents of a converted mill in Stockport suffered terrible conditions. About 400 people faced evacuation without water or electricity. “Can’t get in, can’t get out, the fire brigade is here,” a top-floor resident said, describing the circumstances. Trying to keep their spirits, they said, “The fact I’ve still got a couple of proseccos still in me has taken the edge off this situation.”
Which areas suffered most, and what emergency response was taken?
Greater Manchester Police highlighted Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport, and Wigan as the worst-affected locations. The UK floods caused officials to warn against non-essential travel, shutter portions of the M56 and M57 motorways, and interrupt train services.
Emma Hardy, minister on floods, underlined the government’s will to help affected areas. “The government is working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences through our new Floods Resilience Taskforce so we can continue to protect people and their homes,” she said.
The leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Bev Craig, reassured locals that officials were keeping a careful eye on things.” Thankfully, we are seeing indications that water levels are starting to drop, and it is not sure that more evacuations will be required. Still, water levels will be under continual observation throughout the next few hours.
How seriously were other North-West areas affected?
Significant flooding was recorded in other places, including Clitheroe, Ormskirk, and Ribchester, Lancashire. Though flooded, the River Goyt in Whaley Bridge stayed half a metre below the required level for a 2019 evacuation.
In just 48 hours, some places saw almost a month’s worth of rain. Rochdale in Greater Manchester got 7.5cm, and Honister Pass in Cumbria reported 15cm (6in). The continuous floods in the UK have acted as a sobering reminder of the difficulties intense storms present.
How did unusual weather affect New Year celebrations?
Strong winds added to the turmoil on New Year’s Day by cancelling several events, including charity swims. At Heathrow Airport, authorities slowed the rate of arrivals, causing 36 flight cancellations due to strong winds.
The New Year’s Day procession in London proceeded despite damp and gusty weather. However, the celebration was postponed by thirty minutes without the customary inflatable cartoon creatures like the 21-metre Mighty Mouse and Big Garfield.
How will the heavy snow and ice warning affect things?
Snow and ice present a further issue for the UK as floodwaters recede. From Saturday afternoon until Monday morning, the Met Office issued a heavy snow warning. Apart from certain coastal fringes and the southwest of England, this alert covers Edinburgh and the south coast.
A Met Office meteorologist said: “About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales, and northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines.”
The meteorologist cautioned of possible travel disruptions: “It’s going to start as snow in many places, but it’s a question of how quickly that snow melts and turns back to rain.” The warning will be changed regularly between today and the weekend. Indeed, keep tuned on the forecast if your trip plans call for Sunday and maybe Monday.
What dangers exist in icy conditions following snowfall?
Apart from the weekend heavy snow warning, the Met Office issued a yellow ice alert for northern England, north Wales, and Scotland. Forecasters advised freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, and snow might cause dangerous pavement conditions and roadways.
By Wednesday night, England had forty flood warnings active; Scotland had eleven; Wales had four. “Significantly inland flooding is possible after heavy and continuous rain,” warned an Environment Agency flood duty manager. For some of northern England, river levels will stay high until Thursday.
Marked by UK floods and an impending heavy snow warning, this start to 2025 reminds us of the UK’s vulnerability to catastrophic weather. Resilience and readiness will be most important in the days ahead as towns continue to struggle with floods and prepare for snow.
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