Flood Alert Info - Upper River Wear

Area Description

Upper River Wear from source to Witton Park.
This is a Flood Alert Area. For this area the highest level of flood notification that you will receive is a Flood Alert. No Flood Warnings or Severe Flood Warnings are issued for this area.
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There are no Flood Alerts currently in force for this area. See below for historical flood warnings.

Area Covered by this Flood Alert

The orange highlighted area on the map below outlines the area covered by this Flood Alert.
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Flood Alert History

Number of historic Flood Alerts that have previously been recorded for this area:
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Historical Flood Alerts for this Area

Flood Alert issued on 27 Dec 2023 15:40
River Wear
River levels are rising on the Upper River Wear due to heavy rainfall. Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Upper River Wear, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around riverside footpaths and low lying land and roads. Further heavy rainfall is forecast throughout the remainder of the day. We will continue to monitor levels closely. Avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses and do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water. This message will be updated by 10:30 AM on 28/12/2023, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 7 Dec 2023 19:35
River Wear
River levels have risen on the Upper River Wear due to heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of low lying roads, footpaths and farmland is possible through the evening, peaking overnight. We will continue to monitor the forecast and will issue any flood warnings if required. Take care near the areas of concern and monitor your local weather conditions. Please avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses and do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water. This message will be updated by 09:00 AM on 08/12/2023, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 8 Jul 2023 17:40
River Wear
There have been some heavy showers this afternoon (Saturday 8th July) in the North East Area, but the potential for further heavy, possibly thundery, showers remains this evening and through the night which could bring high isolated totals. There is low confidence in the exact location and distribution of the heaviest showers but where they do fall there will be a particular risk of surface water impacts in urban areas and the potential for a fluvial response in rapidly responding catchments. Therefore, the Flood Alert will remain in force overnight and we will provide a further update tomorrow morning. We are not currently expecting to issue any Flood Warnings, but we are closely monitoring the situation and will issue any Flood Warnings if required.


Flood Alert issued on 8 Jul 2023 11:26
River Wear
This message has been issued proactively ahead of heavy thundery showers that are forecast to move across the region between 11am and 12 midnight today (Sat 8th July) with the potential to bring high isolated totals. There is low confidence in the exact location and distribution of the heaviest showers but where they do fall there will be a particular risk of surface water impacts in urban areas and the potential for a fluvial response in rapidly responding catchments. We are not currently expecting to issue any Flood Warnings but we are closely monitoring the situation and will issue any Flood Warnings if required. This message will be updated this evening or earlier if the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 20 Feb 2022 20:09
River Wear
River levels continue to remain high on the Upper River Wear as a result of heavy and prolonged rainfall throughout Sunday (20/02/2022). River levels at Stanhope have peaked and are now falling. River levels at Witton Park are currently peaking but will remain high overnight. Please monitor local water levels and weather conditions. Avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. We are closely monitoring the situation. This message will be updated by 10:00 on 21/02/22, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 20 Feb 2022 07:49
River Wear
River levels have risen at the Stanhope river gauge as a result of heavy and prolonged rainfall. Areas most at risk are riverside footpaths and low-lying land and roads. Further rainfall is forecast throughout the day remaining heavy this morning. We expect river levels to continue to rise throughout the morning and peak at 17:00 today, 20/02/22. River levels are expected to remain high for the rest of the day, 20/02/22. We are closely monitoring the situation and our incident response staff have been checking trash screens. We currently do not expect to issue any Flood Warnings. Please plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded and avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses. This message will be updated by 20:00 on 20/02/22, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 3 Feb 2021 08:35
River Wear
River levels are forecast to rise on the River Wear and its tributaries as a result of prolonged rainfall throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday, 03/02/2021. Consequently, flooding of low lying roads and farmland is possible from 07:00 today until this afternoon, 03/02/2021. The main impacts are being observed on smaller watercourses and tributaries, in particular areas around Howden-le-wear including Howden beck and Beachburn Beck. Areas most at risk are riverside footpaths, low lying land and roads. We are closely monitoring the situation. Take care near the areas of concern and monitor your local weather conditions. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. This message will be updated by 16:00 on 03/02/21, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 3 Feb 2021 08:02
River Wear
River levels are forecast to rise on the River Wear and its tributaries as a result of prolonged rainfall throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday, 03/02/2021. Consequently, flooding of low lying roads and farmland is possible from 07:00 today until this afternoon, 29/01/2021. The main impacts are being observed on smaller watercourses and tributaries, in particular areas around Howden-le-wear including Howden beck and Beachburn Beck. Areas most at risk are riverside footpaths, low lying land and roads. We are closely monitoring the situation. Take care near the areas of concern and monitor your local weather conditions. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. This message will be updated by 16:00 on 03/02/21, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 16 Feb 2020 09:48
River Wear
River levels on the Upper River Wear remain high as a result of heavy rainfall and snow melt. No further heavy rainfall is forecast today. River levels at Stanhope and Witton Park have peaked and we expect levels to fall throughout the day. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. We are closely monitoring the situation and our incident response staff are checking defences. This message will be updated this afternoon, 16/02/2020, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 15 Feb 2020 18:16
River Wear
River levels have risen on the Upper River Wear as a result of heavy rainfall and snow melt. Consequently, rivers will be high throughout the evening, 15/02/2020, and into Sunday. Further heavy rainfall is forecast over the weekend. We expect river levels to remain high over this period. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. We are closely monitoring the situation and our incident response staff are checking defences. This message will be updated tomorrow morning, 16/02/2020, or as the situation changes.


Flood Alert issued on 8 Feb 2020 21:00
River Wear
River levels are forecast to rise at the Stanhope river gauges as a result of Storm Ciara. Consequently River Wear levels will rise relatively rapidly through Saturday night, 08/02/20 into Sunday morning, 09/02/20. Flooding of properties/roads and farmland is possible. Areas most at risk are riverside footpaths, low lying land and roads. Further heavy rainfall is forecast through Saturday night and Sunday, rain will be particularly heavy over high ground in the Pennines and the Cheviots. We are closely monitoring the situation and issue any flood warnings as needed. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded. This message will be updated by 09:30 on Sunday, 09/02/20, or as the situation changes.