Nottinghamshire County Council alerts that River Trent’s water levels expected to peak today due to delayed flooding

The River Trent’s water levels are still rising following heavy snow and rain, but they should peak by the middle of today (Wednesday), officials say.

Nottinghamshire has experienced flooding across the county after the region was hit by melting snow and heavy rain over the weekend, with downpours continuing into Monday (January 6).

On Sunday more than half of the average rainfall for January fell in the night, delivering 44mm of rain- January’s average is 75mm.

Road closures were in place this week, with the A1 closed from Fernwood to Gonerby Moor much of this week, as well as the A617 from the Cattlemarket roundabout to Kelham.

A yellow weather warning was put in place and there were 19 flood warnings on Monday.

This morning, there are still eight flood warnings in place for Newark and the immediate areas which were issued on Tuesday.

The flood warnings are for Newark Sugar Factory and Kelham Bridge, including Kelham Lane, Great North Road and Kelham Bridge, as well as Newark Riverside Properties and Fiskerton Mill including Rolleston Fields, Gorse and Nurseries.

Warnings are also in place at Newark Tolney Lane and Riverside Marinas as river levels continue to rise at the Farndon river gauge, with areas most at risk are Tolney Lane Caravan Site and riverside marinas in Newark.

Other areas most at risk are Farndon, including Wyke Lane, Marsh Lane, Farndon Road and Dorner Avenue.

Two other flood warnings are in place on the River Trent north of Newark, at Carlton-on-Trent including Beck Cottage and Girton.

River levels continue to rise at the Carlton-on-Trent river gauge, and the A1133 and High Street may also flood in Girton.

A flood warning at the River Witham and its tributaries from Claypole to Lincoln was in place on Moday, but this has since been downgraded to a flood alert.

The Environment Agency has forecast no more rain for the next several days, potentially leading into next week.

However, there is anticipated to be a delayed impact on the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, with the flooding in Leicestershire and Derbyshire, along with melting snow, feeding into the river.

The Environment Agency is predicting raised water levels in the Trent, particularly around the Trent Bridge area to peak around the middle of today (January 8).

Nottinghamshire County Councillor Neil Clarke, cabinet member for Transport and Environment said: “It’s not rising very quickly, it is slowly, but all that water will continue down the River Soar (in Leicestershire) into the Trent which is why there’s a delay in this area.”

Mr Clarke said there is “no major threat at present” for those living in homes near the river in the area but the council is asking people to “be aware and be cautious” over the next few days.

Between 20 and 30 homes have been evacuated in the county since the adverse weather hit, including homes in the Trent Valley and a few near Retford.

Mr Clarke added the council is currently on “standby” for potential evacuations should the need arise but says the Environment Agency is not predicting the River Trent’s level will reach the same height it did a year ago – when Storm Henk caused devastation to more than 350 homes and businesses across Nottinghamshire.

The County Council has already deployed street sweepers to clear the roads of debris and silt from the flooding and is working with district and borough councils and emergency services.

The council will also continue to grit the roads as long as the temperature stays below freezing.

Neil Clarke added: “If there is water approaching people’s houses, contact the councils and we can get sandbags out to them to help stop the water.

“We don’t want to scare people, it has to be a measured warning and we are asking people to be aware and be cautious.”