Storm Isha: What’s happening in your neighbourhood – roads, flood alerts and power cuts

Cumbria was battered overnight by Storm Isha.

Trees have come down across the county, roofs have been blown away by the strong winds and thousands of people are without power.

River levels are rising and flood warnings and alerts are still in place today, Monday.

The Met Office issued the warning for wind from 6pm yesterday, Sunday, and a yellow weather warning for rain across Cumbria.

People are urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Carlisle East Fire Station was called out to the city’s Botchergate last night.

It said: “Our crew have just attended reports of an unsafe structure on Botchergate, Carlisle, and the high winds are meaning debris is falling from numerous buildings.

“The police are in the process of closing the road, but please avoid the area for your own safety. Our crews will be back out to assess the unstable structures once the winds drop and it is deemed safe.”

Carlisle East Fire Station said: “Our crews from Carlisle West and Carlisle East have attended a number of dangerous structures and chimney fires already tonight.

“Crews from all over the county have been to numerous incidents, including vehicles in water, please don’t put yourselves at risk, don’t drive through flood water.”

Southwaite Services on the M6 was closed due to power outage overnight and Sellafield Ltd suspended its operations overnight due to the storm.

It said: “This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.

“We have also sent some people home early so that they could travel before the weather conditions worsened.

“Operations are expected to resume on Monday and employees are currently advised to attend work as normal. There are currently no safety or security issues associated with this issue.”

School closures

Schools have closed across Cumbria as a result of Storm Isha.

• Thursby Primary School – Closed Monday 19th January 2024 due to no electricity from the weather as the rest of the village. We hope power returns for tomorrow but will update everyone when known.
• Crosby Ravensworth School – School will be closed today due to no electric, no communication in school. Closed on health and safety grounds.
• Ivegill School – School is currently closed due to a power cut caused by Storm Isha.
• Shankhill Primary School, Carlisle – Closed due to power cut. Power will hopefully be restored later today so we can open tomorrow. More info to follow later today.
• Appleby Primary School – Power outage in large areas of the building, intermittent power supply and no heating.
• Long Marton Primary School
• Milburn School – No electricity due to Storm Isha.
• Dean Barwick Primary School, Grange-over-Sands – no power

Flood alerts and warnings

Appleby’s flood siren was sounded at 9pm, The river is still expected to peak at around 4.1m between 1.30am and 2.15am.

Flood warning siren has just gone off in Appleby #StormIsha pic.twitter.com/91PuKU2yZ8

— Simon Higgens (@simon_higgens) January 21, 2024

Flood warning – flooding is expected

• Keswick Campsite
• River Eden at Carlisle, Rickerby Park, Swifts and Stoneyholme Golf Course
• River Eden at Low Crosby, Warwick Holmes
• River Eden between Newby East and Low Crosby

Flood alerts – flooding is possible

• Lower River Eden
• Middle River Eden
• Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster
• Rivers Caldew and Petteril
• Rivers Lowther and Eamont
• Upper River Aire catchment area
• Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwentwater

Flood warnings removed

• River Greta at Keswick, Keswick Campsite, rugby club and Quinta
• Rivers Kent and Mint at Kendal, Westmorland Business Park, Burneside Road, Benson Green
• River Eamont at Eamont Bridge, Kemplay Foot, Skirsgill Lane and Southwaite Green Mill
• Appleby, Holme and Chapel Street and Cherry Row
• Lower River Lune and Conder
• River Eden at Appleby, The Sands, cricket ground, King George III field
• River Eden and Caldew at Carlisle, Devonshire Walk, West Coast mainline, Bitts Park, Cricket Club
• River Eden at Armathwaite, the Castle and Brocklewath
• River Eden at Bolton
• River Eden at Warwick Bridge, Warwick Park and Holme Eden Gardens
• River Eden at Warwick Bridge, Holme House, Bridge End and Holme Eden Hall
• River North Tyne
• River Rede
• Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent
• Rivers Esk and Irthing
• River Greta, St John’s Beck and Bassenthwaite Lake
• Upper River Eden
• Upper River Lune
• Upper River Ribble, Hodder
• Upper River Swale
• Upper River Tees
• Upper River Ure
• Upper River Wharfe
• Widdale Beck at Appersett
• Rivers Kent and Bela

Power cuts

Engineers from Electricity North West are also on standby to respond as the strong winds have the potential to cause increased risk of damage to buildings and the power network.

However, the firm said, it wanted to warn its customers that conditions at times may be unsafe for lines teams to climb and in some instances, power may well be off overnight and into Monday until conditions ease.  

The firm says it is currently experiencing high call volumes due to Storm Isha, which is leading to long wait times. It asks people to only stay on the line to report hazardous situations or urgent welfare concerns.

• Above Derwent – 25 properties – restoration time Monday 6pm
• Aikton – 15 properties – restoration time under review
• Ainstable, Eden – 127 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Appleby – 122 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Arthuret, Carlisle – 69 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Aspatria – 200 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Askerton, Carlisle – 22 properties – restoration under review
• Blennerhasset & Torpenhow – 237 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Boltons – 175 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Brough, Eden – 457 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Brougham, Eden – 90 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Cleator Moor – 614 properties – restoration under review
• Clifton, Eden – 25 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Colton, South Lakeland – 151 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Crook – 13 properties – restoration time under review
• Cumwhitton, Carlisle 122 properties – restoration time – Tuesday 5pm
• Currock & Upperby – 48 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Denton Holme and Morton South – 28 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Egremont – 32 properties – restoration under review
• Embleton – 21 properties – restoration under review
• Ennerdale and Kinniside – 71 properties – – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Glassonby, Eden – 218 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Hethersgill, Carlisle – 9 properties – restoration time 2.11am
• Hesket, Eden – 156 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Hindpool, Barrow – 8 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Holme St Cuthbert – 21 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Hunsonby, Eden – 319 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Kirkby Lonsdale – 100 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Kirkby Stephen – 616 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Kirkby Thore – 89 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Kirklinton Middle, Carlisle – 12 properties – restoration under review
• Lambrigg, South Lakeland – 90 properties – – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Langwathby – 27 properties – restoration under review
• Lowick – 20 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Matterdale – 138 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Millom – 7 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Morland, Eden – 391 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Moresby – 75 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Natland, South Lakeland – 83 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Oughterside and Allerby – 127 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Penrith – 56 properties – restoration under review
• Plumbland – 242 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Ravenstonedale – 6 properties – restoration time under review
• Rockcliffe, Carlisle – 53 properties – Tuesday 5pm
• Sedbergham – 108 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Shap – 255 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Skelton, Eden – 1,061 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm (343 – restoration time Tuesday 5pm; 105 – restoration under review )
• Setmurthy – 328 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• South Lakes – 540 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Stainmore, Eden – 4 properties – restoration time 7.10pm
• Stapleton, Carlisle – 48 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Stanwix rural – 567 properties – restoration under review
• Stanwix, Carlisle – 682 properties – restoration under review
• Staveley-in-Cartmel – 11 properties – restoration time under review
• Strickland Ketel – 106 properties – restoration time Monday 6pm
• St Cuthbert Without, Carlisle – 600 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• St John’s, Castlerigg and Wythburn – 14 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Torver – 70 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Westlinton – 726 properties – restoration time under review
• Westward – 260 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm (65 properties restoration time Monday 6pm)
• Whitehaven – 132 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Winton, Eden – 458 properties – restoration under review
• Wasdale – 16 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm
• Woodside, between Wigton and Dalston – 505 properties – restoration time Tuesday 5pm
• Yanwath & Eden Bridge – 234 properties – restoration Tuesday 5pm

Roads

St John in the Vale, Cumbria B5322 impassable at Thirlmere end.

Lots of standing water on A591 and A66 as Storm Isha hits

Was aiming to get home before worst of it hit, already quite severe around Northern fells of the Lake District #StormIsha #Cumbria #LakeDistricy pic.twitter.com/5qVeJhSkiN

— Harrison Ward | Fell Foodie (@FellFoodie) January 21, 2024

Drivers are advised to take care on the roads. Cumbria police said: “Always drive to the road and weather conditions.” People are urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Incidents/roads closed

National Highways said it is working to right and remove a number of lorries which overturned in the county during the storm which saw wind speeds reach more than 80mph in places such as Shap between junction 39 and 40 of the M6.

The southbound M6 is currently closed between junction 39 and junction 38 between Shap and Tebay following incidents yesterday evening which resulted in two lorries overturning.

Near Carlisle, two lorries overturned on the northbound M6 resulting in a spillage, barrier damage and the ongoing closure of the motorway between junction 43 and junction 44. 

And the A66 between Cumbria and County Durham is currently closed in both directions between Brough and Bowes with several lorries overturning overnight.  Wind speeds reached 75mph along the route.

⛔️❌ A6 Shap ❌⛔️

Please avoid the #A6 through Shap. The Main Street is badly flooded including some properties. @CumbriaFire in attendance. #CumbriaRoads #StormIsha

Thanks to Nikki for the video.

Posted: 19:45 hrs @BBC_Cumbria @CumbriaCrack @WandFHighways pic.twitter.com/AV77yrwK19

— Cumbria Road Watch (@CumbriaRdWatch) January 21, 2024

• Reports that flooding between Kirkoswald and Lazonby is making it impossible to pass
• Reports that a tree is down on Southwaite Road & Ivegill Road
• Botchergate in Carlisle was closed last night due to debris falling from buildings
• A69 between J43 & A689 closed due to flooding
• M6 closed southbound between 38 & 39 to allow for recovery of multiple overturned lorries
• A66 between A1 53 and M6 Junction 40 closed
• 684 Singleton Park Kendal closed between Kendal and the motorway due to a high number of fallen trees.
• Appleby Sands Road closed due to flooding from the River Eden.
• A592 Stybarrow Crag, Glenridding – flooding issues, passible with care.
• A591 Kendal Fell (Kendal bypass southbound) crews have reduced surface water on lanes, passible with care yet drive with caution.
• A689 between Linstock Roundabout and Crosby-on-Eden – fallen tree partially blocking the road
• Reports of fallen tree on A684, Oxenholme
• Fallen tree on B5299 between Mealsgate and Ireby – road is currently blocked due to fallen tree.
• Flooding on the B5289 between Keswick and Lodore Falls means this road is currently closed as it is impassable.
• Ellerbeck Brow, Brigham – reports of a fallen tree
• A595 Orton Grange – reports of a fallen tree partially blocking the Wigton Road between Orton Grange and Newby Cross
• B5299 between Mealsgate and Ireby is blocked due to a fallen tree
• A7 Sandysyke near Longtown – reports of a fallen tree
• A roof has blown off a building on Wyndham Road, Broughton Moor, closing the road
• The A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner was closed to high-sided vehicles until 3am today Monday January 22.
• Closed: Junction of Oaktree Crescent/Isel Road due to roof blown off building
• Closed: Kirkandrews on Eden to Monkhill
• Reports of fallen tree on the A7 English Street, Longtown, at Albert Street
• A592 Stybarrow Crag, Glenridding – flooding issues, passible with care.
• A684 out of Kendal closed due to fallen trees blocking the route.
• Windermere Ferry service is cancelled today, Monday January 22

Roads cleared and passable

• A65 now open – fallen tree cleared
• A685 Grayrigg – flooding north of the village clear but travel with care.
• Kirkandrews on Eden to Monkhill – road open and tree now cleared
• Cocker Bridge in Cockermouth set to reopen at 7am
• 6 Main Street, Shap between R Iversons Garage to Co-op is flooding reduced and passible with care.
• A591 at Bannerigg and Brockhole visitors centre – flooding, road passible with care.
• A685 Chapel House, Grayrigg – flooding outside property reduce, road passible with care.
• B5305 Penrith to Sedbergham – tree partially into the road, passible with care.
• A65 now open – fallen tree cleared
• A590 open in both directions following crash

St John in the Vale, Cumbria B5322 impassable at Thirlmere end.

Lots of standing water on A591 and A66 as Storm Isha hits

Was aiming to get home before worst of it hit, already quite severe around Northern fells of the Lake District #StormIsha #Cumbria #LakeDistricy pic.twitter.com/5qVeJhSkiN

— Harrison Ward | Fell Foodie (@FellFoodie) January 21, 2024

Public transport

TransPennine Express has issued do not travel advice for people wanting to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow today, Monday, until at least noon.

The firm said it strongly advised people delay their journeys due to significant disruption expected by Storm Isha.

Avanti West Coast said due to a speed restriction because of severe weather all Glasgow and Edinburgh lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until noon today, Monday.

Train services between London Euston and Glasgow Central may be cancelled or terminated at and started back from Preston. All stations after Preston will not be served.

Services to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh will start from 9am. Any customers making journeys between Preston and Scotland should not attempt to travel until 9am when services will resume.

Northern said due to heavy rain flooding the railway, services are unable to run between Skipton and Carlisle, and Carlisle and Barrow. People are being told not to travel on these routes.

Due to a multiple trees blocking the railway between Hexham and Carlisle all lines are blocked. Services from Newcastle to Carlisle will terminate at Hexham.