Flood risks: This is today's weather forecast for Harrogate district during Storm Christoph

Anxious residents in flooding danger spots in the Harrogate district are waiting and hoping to escape the worst of Storm Christoph today.
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Water levels remain high in rivers and becks this morning, particularly at the River Nidd in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

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North Yorkshire County Council has deployed more than 15,000 sandbags in areas at risk while North Yorkshire Police said there would be no enforcement action against anyone forced to evacuate during Storm Christoph.

The Marigold Cafe in Knaresborough as the River Nidd levels rise. (Picture Gerard Binks)The Marigold Cafe in Knaresborough as the River Nidd levels rise. (Picture Gerard Binks)
The Marigold Cafe in Knaresborough as the River Nidd levels rise. (Picture Gerard Binks)

Weather forecasts show that the worst of the storm is set to pass before the end of today, Thursday in this district..

But that does not mean the district can breathe a sigh of relief yet.

The Government's Flood information service warned during the night that flooding of property, roads and land in Knaresborough is possible today, Thursday.

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The risks, it said, are highest at riverside land at Knaresborough Caravan Park.

And there are still flood warnings in place in for Goldsborough Mill Farm, the River Ure in Boroughbridge, becks in Northallerton, the River Swale in Skipton on Swale and the River Ouse in York.

Recent floods in Harrogate district

The last decade has seen a series of storms which, while they have tended to impact on South Yorkshire and the North West more fiercely than North Yorkshire have, nonetheless, caused major headaches in places for residents and businesses, usually the same ones.

Last February saw not one but two storms in succession cause flooding in parts of the Harrogate district - Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

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Storm Ciara hit Masham hard, leading to flooding on the main street while the River Ure burst its banks on Bridge Street in Boroughbridge.

Fearing the worst after previous experiences of flooding by the River Nidd, some businesses on the Waterside in Knaresborough closed temporarily.

And Storm Ciara was followed swiftly last year by Storm Dennis which went on to flood play areas in Pateley Bridge.

The fear factor

But, whether flooding happens or not, the warnings have an effect regardless, causing disruption, fear, temporary closures of businesses and travel disruption.

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As for what damage Storm Christoph will causes the Harrogate district today, the weather forecasts are at least more positive.

Storm Christoph: Forecast for Harrogate district weather

The forecast in Harrogate today is for gusty winds and sleety rain but the latter is expected to peter out this afternoon before the sun sets.

Things will quieten down further tomorrow, Friday with sunny intervals and a moderate breeze.

The weekend is set to get colder but is predicted to stay dry.

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