Wettest day in a millenium
It’s usually docile, slinking its way without fuss through the marshes to Bassenthwaite and beyond. But this last week the River Derwent has shown another very different and violent face.
With unprecedented rainfall of over 300 mm in 24 hours last Thursday in Borrowdale, the sheer volume of water pouring off already sodden fells could no longer be contained. Bridges, walls, trees, cars were swept aside as raging waters spread across fields and dykes, raced down streets and wrecked houses in their path.
Most of the national news stories have shown the damage, destruction and despair caused downstream in Cockermouth and Workington, but Keswick and the surrounding villages have had their share of heartache too as the photos below show.
Shops and houses have been flooded, people made homeless, roads closed and at least one bridge over Newlands Beck has collapsed at Little Braithwaite. The wide flood plain of the marshes has taken the brunt of the storm waters and turned Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite into one huge long lake (see Photo above and Nos 3 and 5), but the forecast of more heavy rain this week could bring further misery. Fortunately The Larches and Seldom Seen have been largely unaffected, though there was spillage of surface water onto the road as the gulleys had not been regularly cleared.
Rainfall in the area has been higher than ever recorded anywhere in Britain. Important bridges downstream in Workington and elsewhere have been smashed and inspections of more than 1800 bridges in Cumbria could bring further closures. Inevitably all this raises questions about whether this calamity to hit North West Cumbria is the result of wider worldwide climate change.
4 Responses to “Wettest day in a millenium”
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Always a little scary when nature goes somewhat off-balance – The pictures were
excellent – however, one wonders about the small creatures and people in their homes – as well as the homeless.
Much relieved to learn that apart from power cuts all well. Had envisaged water cascading down your valley and through the Larches with refuge only upstairs or on the Belvedere. Best Wishes and Many Thanks for the Pictures and update.
Glad the Larches is OK – sufficiently high enough, I guess. Lives tend to get turned over and it takes a long time to turn back; flood defences here in Winchcombe, including changing water flows, all seem to be working in the recent deluges, but everyone is nervous. I wonder if future generations will look back and pray for even a trickle of the stuff. The hardship that folk will experience for the next couple of years is very difficult to contemplate.
[...] all seems a long way from the flooded rivers five months ago (see my blog posting), which brought misery and heartache as hundreds became homeless, bridges and footpaths were [...]