Flood alert for River Stort as a result of heavy rain and melting snow

A flood alert has been issued for the River Stort and Stansted Brook as a result of heavy rain and melting snow.

The alert – which is less serious than a flood warning and means flooding is possible, so be alert – was issued by the Environment Agency (EA) on Sunday (January 5).

Water levels in the Stort are high between Grange Paddocks and Castle Park, with the river close to bursting its banks at the Link Road car park. The Met Office is forecasting a 50-70% chance of rain until lunchtime.

The EA monitoring station at Grange Paddocks shows the water level peaked at 0.59 metres from 4am to 8.45am today (Monday). At 6am on Sunday it was 0.28m. The normal range is 0.06-1.15m.

Upstream, at Clavering, near the river’s source, on Sunday evening the water reached 1.24m, just short of the top of its normal range of 1.30m, but this morning it had fallen to 0.70m by 10am.

Downstream, at Sawbridgeworth, the water level at 10am was 1.66m – 3cm above the top of its normal range of 0.94m to 1.63m – but beginning to steady.

Amateur weatherman Andy White, of Thorley Park, told the Indie that the 2-3cm (0.79-1.18in) of snow that fell overnight on Saturday had mostly gone by midday Sunday.

Total precipitation was 22mm (0.87in) from Saturday midnight to Sunday midnight and 30mm (1.18in) from Saturday midnight to 10am on Monday.

Andy said: “The most significant weather feature for me has been the big temperature drop from 11C midnight last night to a current of 2C with a chill factor of minus 3!”

The flood alert area covers the Stort, Stansted Brook and their tributaries from Clavering to Hoddesdon and includes Stansted Mountfitchet, Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Harlow.

The EA said on Sunday: “Flooding is possible as river levels are rising this evening due to heavy rainfall and snow melt. Flooding is possible from 6.30pm.

“Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Stort, with low-lying land and roads expected to be most affected. No flooding to properties is currently expected.

“We expect river levels to remain high until tomorrow [Monday] afternoon, when we expect them to begin to fall.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and monitoring rainfall and river levels.

“Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water and monitor local water levels and weather conditions.”