On this day 2023: Flooding on Haughton Road in Darlington disrupts traffic

Haughton Road, near the Brownlow Cars dealership, was flooded with water. Drivers had to navigate through the large pool on the road. Footage from the area shows that the road is currently passable, with several vehicles managing to get through by driving slowly.

An amber flood alert was issued for the River Skerne. Rising river levels that morning created a potential for flooding until 7 PM that evening. Areas deemed most at risk included riverside footpaths, low-lying land, and roads near Preston-Le-Skerne. However, meteorological conditions were expected to improve that afternoon, with no further flooding anticipated.

The flooding followed a weekend marked by icy cold weather across the North East, which saw heavy snowfall blanketing the region. This inclement weather resulted in substantial travel chaos across both road and rail systems.

The Government announced an amber health alert for the following six days. This alert cautioned the public about an increase in deaths and pressure on the NHS due to the persistent cold weather. The health alert, spanning from January 6 to January 12, warned of excess deaths among vulnerable populations, particularly those aged 65 and older or with existing health conditions.

The statement from the Government included warnings of expected increased demand for health services and potential staffing challenges due to external factors such as travel delays. The Met Office predicted that temperatures would drop as low as -3°C later in the week, with strong wind gusts exceeding 30 mph.

The A66, a key route between Scotch Corner and Penrith, continued to be closed for a second straight day, with no news of when it would re-open. Additionally, ten schools across County Durham were compelled to close, stating that their sites had become “unsafe” due to the heavy snow.

Nationally, January 5 recorded the UK’s coldest winter night thus far, with Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands recording a chilling temperature of minus 13.3°C. The Environment Agency issued a total of 166 flood warnings, indicating that flooding was anticipated, alongside 299 flood alerts, which indicated that flooding was a possible threat across England.