SCHOOLS have been shut and roads flooded as Storm Jonas lashes Cumbria.

A Met Office weather warning for rain is in place for today and tomorrow.

The Westmorland Gazette:

The warning covers much of the North West but forecasters are warning that more exposed parts of the region can expect 100-150mm of rain until 3pm tomorrow.

An Environment Agency flood warning was put in place at 12.20pm for the River Kent at Burneside, Steeles Row and Carling Steps.

The EA said the river was currently rising and was expected to peak at 4pm.

National Rail said no trains will run between Oxenholme and Windermere until 1.30pm.

Cumbria Police have received reports of surface water flooding around the Kendal area.

 

There are also reports of the River Mint bursting its banks at Patton, near Kendal.

There is flooding on the coast road outside the Ship Inn at Sandside.

 

The Glenridding Hotel, which was severely flooded in December, has also started flooding.

 

 

Thank you for all your kind comments. We will try and keep you all posted as the day progresses.

Posted by The Glenridding Hotel on Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Drivers are having to drive on the pavement to get around the flooded road at Bannerigg, near Windermere.

Ambleside CofE primary school, the Lakes School, St Martin and St Marys, Windermere, Patterdale CofE school, Coniston's John Ruskin and Keswick School have been closed for the rest of the day.

Residents are being urged to check their flood risk, be prepared for flooding and be cautious if travelling, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday. As the weather remains unsettled, there is the potential of nine hours of rainfall from this morning with up to 80mm of rain in total.

The A66 is closed to high-sided vehicles in both directions between the A685 junction in Brough and Scotch Corner. Winds of 60mph were recorded at Shap.

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Environment Agency teams are working round the clock checking and maintaining flood defences by completing grid runs, checking flood gates and flood walls, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring water levels.

Matt Crump from the Environment Agency said: “We are expecting heavy rainfall and winds coming in from the west and urge communities to be prepared for the risk of flooding.

 

"We will issue flood warnings and alerts where necessary as rivers respond to the rainfall. This could also cause drains to overflow, so people need to be ready for possible flash flooding in some places. Environment Agency teams are already out checking flood defenses, clearing trash screens and blockages in watercourses and culverts and we have flood support officers visiting communities with the greatest risk across Cumbria and Lancashire this week , giving support and guidance”.

People should check their flood risk and keep up to date with the latest situation at https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding or follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter for the latest flood updates.

 

The Environment Agency is continuing to work on the ground to help communities recover from the severe floods which hit Cumbria and Lancashire last month.