Storm Franklin in pictures: Streets turned into rivers as third storm batters Britain

Emily Cleary
·5 min read
Severn Valley Caravan Park was surrounded by flood water in Bridgnorth, Shropshire , on Monday (SWNS)
Severn Valley Caravan Park was surrounded by flood water in Bridgnorth, Shropshire , on Monday (SWNS)

Storm Franklin has become the third storm in a week to batter Britain, turning roads into rivers as flood barriers broke and heavy rain hit.

Gale-force winds and rain hampered attempts to restore power to some 32,000 homes still impacted as a result of storms Dudley and Eunice last week.

Storm Eunice left 1.4 million households without electricity as it swept Britain on Friday with winds of up to 100mph.

Pictures of Franklin show the scale of the flooding with parts of Wales, the Midlands and the north of England significantly affected.

A stranded vehicle in flood water in Belper, Derbyshire as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
A stranded vehicle in flood water in Belper, Derbyshire just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power (PA)
A man alongside a stranded car in flood water on the A6 near Milford, Derbyshire, as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
Drivers were stranded in flood water on the A6 near Milford, Derbyshire (PA)

A yellow wind warning for England, Wales and south-western Scotland was in place until 1pm on Monday, while an amber warning for Northern Ireland expired at 7am.

Winds peaked during Monday morning's rush-hour, according to Greg Dewhurst, senior meteorologist at the Met Office.

Storm Franklin’s highest gust of 87mph was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight on Sunday evening, followed by gusts of 79mph on a mountaintop in Wales early on Monday.

The Hurt Arms pub is surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire, as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
The Hurt Arms pub was surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire (getty)
The Hurt Arms pub is surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire, as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
The Hurt Arms was surrounded by floodwater (PA)

There was widespread rush-hour travel disruption on Monday morning, with National Rail telling customers not to travel.

The Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood warning across the UK, as well as a rare “severe” warning for the River Severn at the Wharfage, Ironbridge, where rising water levels pose a “significant risk to life”.

Flooding by the Ross Rowing Club in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, after high winds and wet weather. Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
Flooding by the Ross Rowing Club in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire (PA)
Swans swim next to a bench in Worcester alongside the river Severn (SWNS)
Swans swim next to a bench in Worcester alongside the river Severn (SWNS)

Severe flood warnings were issued in areas of Greater Manchester close to the Mersey.

Major flooding across parts of Yorkshire blocked multiple lines and shuttered South Yorkshire’s Rotherham Central railway station until Tuesday.

Train operator Northern posted a photograph on social media showing the rail line through Rotherham station flooded to the extent that the tracks are not visible.

Streets in the town of Matlock, Derbyshire, have been flooded after the River Derwent burst its banks, with residents posting photos on Twitter and describing the town centre as “a river”.

Debris left after floodwater receded from the River Mersey near Didsbury Golf Club, after Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Debris left after floodwater receded from the River Mersey near Didsbury Golf Club, Greater Manchester (Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Flooded fields at Ross Sports Club in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, after high winds and wet weather. Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
Flooded fields at Ross Sports Club in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, after high winds and wet weather. Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.

The River Don burst its banks in the Sprotbrough area of Doncaster in South Yorkshire on Sunday night, and police warned people to stay away from dangerous “fast-flowing” water.

Worcester County cricket ground was submerged under water and the River Severn broke its banks in several places, leading to rivers running through residential areas and into playgrounds and parks.

Major flooding across parts of Yorkshire has blocked multiple lines and shuttered South Yorkshire’s Rotherham Central railway station until Tuesday.

Train operator Northern posted a photograph on social media showing the rail line through Rotherham station flooded to the extent that the tracks are not visible.

Worcester County Cricket ground was submerged following flooding driven by heavy rain (SWNS)
Worcester County Cricket ground was submerged following flooding driven by heavy rain (SWNS)

Streets in the town of Matlock, Derbyshire, were flooded when the River Derwent burst its banks, with residents posting photos on Twitter and describing the town centre as “a river”.

The River Don burst its banks in the Sprotbrough area of Doncaster in South Yorkshire on Sunday night, and police warned people to stay away from dangerous “fast-flowing” water.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service reported saving a number of people from stranded cars on the A61 at Harewood Bridge, with more reports of roads left impassable due to flash flooding across the region.

Stretches of the M60 in Greater Manchester and the M6 in Lancashire were closed due to incidents during the storm, including a lorry that hit a bridge and caught fire.

A post on the Lancs Road Police Twitter account said: “High winds caused this HGV to hit a bridge and burst into flames on M6.

The flooded playground at Severn Park Bridgnorth, Shropshire (SWNS)
The flooded playground at Severn Park Bridgnorth, Shropshire (SWNS)

Read More From Yahoo News UK:

Wind energy from Storm Eunice generates 42% of electricity across UK

Lorry bursts into flames on M6 after being blown into bridge by Storm Franklin

Storm Franklin: Thames Barrier closes amid concerns of London 'tidal surge'

“Driver luckily escaped from cab with help from other motorists and is being assessed at hospital."

The Hurt Arms pub is surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire, as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.
The Hurt Arms pub is surrounded by flood water in Belper, Derbyshire, as Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain as Storm Franklin moved in overnight, just days after Storm Eunice destroyed buildings and left 1.4 million homes without power. Picture date: Monday February 21, 2022.

South Western Railway said Network Rail had cleared more than 50 trees from its network since Friday, but more heavy rain and strong winds on Sunday night caused “even more trees to block the lines and further damage to stations and infrastructure”.

In the capital, where wind gusts are up to around 40mph, London Overground services were cancelled or reduced.

Last week marked the first time three named storms have been recorded within seven days since the storm-naming system began in 2015, with Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.

Watch: Plane aborts landing at Manchester Airport as Storm Franklin Hits