Storm Darragh, the fourth named storm of the 2024-25 season, has brought high winds and heavy rainfall across the British isles, again pushing the UK’s flooding, road and rail infrastructure towards breaking point.
On Saturday, an emergency bulletin was initiated at 1am for residents within the Met Office’s red warning zone, which includes parts of Wales and south-west England. This operational alert marks an unprecedented step in response to inclement weather, urging the public to avoid travelling and to remain indoors if feasible.
The latest storm comes just two weeks after Storm Bert, which similarly caused disruption across transport networks and significant flooding. The increasing frequency of major storms underscores the impacts of the climate crisis and should raise infrastructure resilience up the political agenda.
A run down of the infrastructure impacted by Storm Darragh over the weekend is below.
Floods
The ongoing flooding situation in North and East Yorkshire has prompted significant action and concern from local authorities, particularly in areas adjacent to the River Ouse. According to the Environment Agency, the regions most at risk span from Lendal Bridge to Millennium Bridge. As of a recent report, footpaths near the River Ouse at King’s Staith and Queen’s Staith experienced submersion, affecting both pedestrian access and local infrastructure.
At precisely 4pm on December 8, the River Ouse recorded a height of 2.84m, surpassing its normal operational range of 1.9m. The Environment Agency has projected that the river is likely to peak at approximately 3.07m in the early hours of the following morning before beginning a gradual decline, with expectations set for a return to normal levels by Tuesday.
In a statement regarding the emergency situation, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency advised: “Please put your flood plan into action. You should avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.”
This caution is critical given that 11 additional flood warnings remain active throughout North and East Yorkshire, impacting other areas such as Kirkby Mills, Marton, and regions surrounding Pickering Beck, which have already experienced flood conditions due to inclement weather.
In response to the flooding, a control centre has been established in Kirkbymoorside. This facility aims to assist residents affected by the flooding incidents. Reports indicate that several properties in and around Kirkby Mills were inundated overnight, with some areas also experiencing power outages. Officers from North Yorkshire Council are stationed at the Moorside Room, located on Church Street, offering guidance and support to those in need.
Parts of Cambridgeshire were put on alert as weather warnings were issued for the River Nene, particularly near Peterborough. The Met Office designated two severe flood warnings indicating that flooding was expected in these areas, which may lead to road closures impacting local infrastructure.
The primary area affected encompasses North Bank Road, which runs alongside the River Nene to the east of Peterborough and west of the Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice. According to the government’s flood warning, “High flows coming down the River Nene are causing levels to rise. During periods of high tide, the River Nene will be unable to discharge into the sea, resulting in tide lock conditions. This is likely to lead to localised flooding of the North Bank Road, between Peterborough and Rings End.”
In addition to North Bank Road, the B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road, located south of the River Nene, was also under threat due to the heavy rainfall experienced over 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday in the vicinity. The flood warning specifically states, “We have seen heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours in the Peterborough area. The Whittlesey Wash flood storage reservoir is being operated to protect nearby communities from flooding. The rising levels in the Wash will result in flooding of the B1040 road. Whilst the flood warning is in force, the local authority may close the B1040 for safety reasons.”
In a broader context, various flood alerts were issued across Cambridgeshire that denote less severe conditions, indicating the possibility of flooding. These alerts encompass several watercourses including the lower River Cam from Stapleford to Waterbeach, the River Great Ouse from Brampton to Earith, the same river from Wyboston to Brampton, Hundred Foot Washes in both Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, as well as the River Rhee in Central Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
By the morning of Monday 9 December, three flood warnings (“flooding is expected”) and 18 flood alerts (“flooding is possible”) remained in place for Cambridgeshire, though the flood risk for the wider region was said to be low.
Sewage
Over a recent 48 hour period, sewage was discharged into waterways at almost 3,000 distinct locations across England. This alarming statistic shows Storm Darragh has resulted in significant strain on the sewage infrastructure.
The data, compiled by the Rivers Trust based on reports from nine of England’s water companies, reveals a staggering total of 1,524 discharge points operating on Saturday morning alone, with an additional 1,391 locations reported to have dumped sewage in the two days leading up to that point.
Predominantly affected by these discharges is United Utilities, the water provider for the North West of England. The firm accounted for 36% (807) of the reported sewage spills, leading the rankings for the number of overflow events during this period. In contrast, other companies operating in the western regions of England noted sewage dumping at 31% of their locations, while the overall figure across the rest of the nation was reported at 18%.
Rail
Train services across several regions in England and Wales continue to experience significant disruption following the recent impact of Storm Darragh. The severe weather has resulted in the closure of numerous railway lines due to fallen trees and general debris.
Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland were told on Monday morning to prepare for delays and cancellations due to ongoing emergency repairs to overhead line equipment in Warwickshire, stemming from damage inflicted by Storm Darragh.
Network Rail engineers are currently addressing critical safety works at Polesworth, where the storm has caused significant disruption. Early morning services are expected to face extended journey times or outright cancellations as all remaining trains are being diverted via Birmingham.
In addition to the repairs at Polesworth, the storm has also created widespread challenges across the rail network, including instances of flooding in Cheshire and debris from fallen trees, some of which originate from third-party land. As a result, engineers have been deployed to multiple sites to clear debris and restore infrastructure affected by the storm’s aftermath.
Great Western Railway has advised passengers against travelling between Swansea and Carmarthen for the foreseeable future, recommending that travel should be deferred until at least noon today, Monday 9 December. Additionally, disruptions are reported on the Looe, St Ives, and Gunnislake branch lines in Cornwall, which were not expected to reopen until after 11 am.
Services on the Barnstaple and Okehampton branch lines in Devon remain closed until the afternoon at the earliest, pending necessary safety checks. Following storm-related damage, Westbury and Chippenham stations in Wiltshire have reopened, alongside services on the Falmouth branch line in Cornwall.
Towards the north of England, the damage inflicted by Storm Darragh has left the railway line between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent closed indefinitely, with this fallout affecting London Northwestern Railway services operating between Stafford and Crewe. CrossCountry trains, which connect Manchester Piccadilly with a range of destinations including Paignton, Bournemouth, Southampton Central, Bristol Temple Meads, and Birmingham New Street are also impacted. Rail replacement transport is currently in service between Wolverhampton and Crewe to accommodate affected passengers.
Transport for Wales has reported that 11 routes are currently blocked, including key connections between Swansea and Milford Haven, Swansea and Shrewsbury, Birmingham International and Shrewsbury and Chester and Holyhead. Consequently, National Rail Enquiries has issued warnings stating that services might experience increased congestion throughout the day, with the potential for severe overcrowding.
Additionally, West Midlands Railway has announced that it is unable to operate along the line connecting Bromsgrove, Redditch, Birmingham New Street, and Lichfield Trent Valley due to damage to overhead electric wires. The impact of Storm Darragh on rail infrastructure underscores the ongoing need for robust maintenance and swift recovery actions in the face of adverse weather conditions affecting vital transport links.
Rail services between Ely and Norwich have been severely disrupted due to a fallen tree obstructing the tracks. The incident has prompted Greater Anglia to suspend train operations in this corridor, with no clear timeline for resumption provided.
Railway engineers and maintenance crews from Network Rail have been alerted and are mobilising to the affected areas to execute clearance operations and assess the integrity of the rail infrastructure post-storm. The ongoing inclement weather underscores the complexities and demands faced by railway engineers in maintaining operational safety during adverse weather conditions.
Roads
Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc across the UK, triggering widespread disruptions to essential transport infrastructures, as defined by National Highways. With wind gusts soaring to a record 150km/h, multiple roads and bridges have faced closures due to severe safety concerns amplified by the government’s “risk to life” warning.
A comprehensive review of impacted routes reveals substantial roadway closures over the weekend is below.
The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has been shut in both directions, altering travel plans for motorists heading into Wales. National Highways indicated that alternatives such as the M5 and M50 should be utilised as the M48 Severn Bridge is also compromised. The South West Regional Operations Centre is actively monitoring wind conditions to facilitate a safe reopening of the affected structures once conditions improve.
The A66, linking North Yorkshire to Cumbria, has similarly been rendered impassable due to dangerous winds, advising users to consider alternate routes, particularly the A69 through the Pennines.
The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire faces permanent closure between junctions 1 (Aust) and 2 (Chepstow) as a precautionary measure against strong winds.
In Hampshire, the A34 is shut for emergency works aimed at safely removing trees along the carriageway deemed at risk of falling during the storm.
Additional closures include the A5, which is inaccessible between the B5070 (Gledrid) and A483 (Halton) due to conditions threatening the Ceiriog viaduct’s safety.
The A282 southbound at the QEII Bridge, also known as the Dartford Crossing, has experienced changes in traffic management, with diversion routes established for vehicles needing to cross southbound/clockwise on the M25 via the east bore tunnel. Height restrictions are in effect for northbound traffic, limiting passage to the west bore Dartford tunnel for vehicles exceeding 4.8m.
The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has been shut in both directions, altering travel plans for motorists heading into Wales. National Highways indicated that alternatives such as the M5 and M50 should be utilised as the M48 Severn Bridge is also compromised. The South West Regional Operations Centre is actively monitoring wind conditions to facilitate a safe reopening of the affected structures once conditions improve.
The A66, linking North Yorkshire to Cumbria, has similarly been rendered impassable due to dangerous winds, advising users to consider alternate routes, particularly the A69 through the Pennines.
The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire faces permanent closure between junctions 1 (Aust) and 2 (Chepstow) as a precautionary measure against strong winds.
In Hampshire, the A34 is shut for emergency works aimed at safely removing trees along the carriageway deemed at risk of falling during the storm.
Additional closures include the A5, which is inaccessible between the B5070 (Gledrid) and A483 (Halton) due to conditions threatening the Ceiriog viaduct’s safety.
Power
As Storm Darragh approached South Wales, with strong winds and heavy rain forecasted for the area, concerns were raised about potential power cuts and widespread disruptions to the electricity supply. The National Grid Electricity Distribution has stated that while its distribution network is designed to be resilient, the impacts of extreme weather can still pose challenges to power delivery.
Ultimately, roughly 95,000 properties in Wales were reported to have lost power due to high winds.
Hundreds of residencies in Cornwall also saw power lost due to high winds, with the outage expected to remain in place until at least the evening of Monday.
Like what you’ve read? To receive New Civil Engineer’s daily and weekly newsletters click here.
