Torrential rain over Cumbria sets national record
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Devastating rainfall over Cumbria in the last 36 hours reached
record and "historical" levels for the country.
Severe flooding in the county was driven by a combination of heavy
rainfall, saturated ground and swollen rivers.
The Environment Agency said its gauging station at Seawaite Farm
recorded 314.4mm (12.3 inches) in 24 hours up to 00.45am - a record
for England.
Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith was in Cockermouth this
morning.
He said: "This is an extremely serious incident - our thoughts are
with those people whose homes have been flooded.
"We have seen unprecedented rainfall, with what we believe is a
record amount for a 24-hour period in England."
The Environment Agency Floodline service has received more than
12,000 calls from members of the public over the last 48 hours and
issued more than 43,000 flood alerts via phone, text, email and
fax.
Julian Mayes, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division
of the Press Association, said the rainfall was a "historical
event".
Mr Mayes said the levels of rain in Cumbria were equivalent to five
or six months of rainfall typically experienced over London and the
south east of England.
"The fact that there's eight feet of water in some places is not
that surprising," he said.
"Primarily, it's the sheer quantity in the last 36 hours that has
caused the flooding.
"But in November the ground is saturated. The rain can't get into
the soil, it just runs off.
"That means rivers rise very quickly and suddenly."
Mr Mayes said the river levels across Cumbria should stabilise
throughout the day.
He said: "The good thing is river levels fall quickly. Rivers will
be stabilising.
"The rest of the day shouldn't pose any problems. The system
causing this weather has cleared away."
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