Cockermouth floods 2021: where is Cumbria town located - flooding areas, river levels and weather forecast

Flood warnings are in place in Cumbria.

Dramatic scenes saw increasingly high river levels in the region as rain lashed down over the past 24 hours.

Homes and businesses were flooded in Cockermouth as rising water even meant the town’s fireworks display had to be cancelled.

There was disruption to roads and rail services too.

Here’s all you need to know about where Cockermouth is, how homes and businesses have been affected by floods and the weather forecast for the weekend ahead.

Where is Cockermouth?

Cockermouth is a market town located in Cumbria, England.

It is named as the River Cocker splits the town and runs into the River Derwent.

Cockermouth sits on the north-west fringe of the Lake District and was historically part of Cumberland.

The latest census estimates a population of around 8,200 people in the town, which has been prone to flooding in the past.

It experienced severe floods in 2005, 2009 and 2015, and now again in 2021.

Why has it flooded?

Its location to both the River Cocker and the River Derwent means Cockermouth is always going to be at risk of flooding after heavy and persistent rainfall.

Rain fell continuously through Thursday night leading to water levels reportedly at chest height in the town, meaning boats were required to get people to safety.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning, meaning some disruption is likely, and there are no fewer than eight flood warnings in place on the advice of the Environment Agency.

Flooding areas in the UK

There are eight flood warnings in place in Cumbria, meaning flooding is expected at:

• Keswick Campsite
• River Derwent at Workington, Seaton Mill and Barepot
• River Ehen at Egremont, Bleach Green, Ennerdale Mill, Bridge End, Vale View, Wood Bank, Rugby Club
• River Greta at Keswick, Keswick Campsite, Rugby Club and Quinta
• River Leven at Newby Bridge and Backbarrow
• Rivers Cocker and Derwent at Cockermouth, Cricket Ground and Trout Hotel Car Park
• Ullswater and River Eamont at Pooley Bridge, Ullswater Steamer Pier to B5320 Bridge
• Windermere (Lake Levels)

There are also 10 flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible:

• Lower River Eden
• Lower River Lune and Conder
• Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster
• Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent
• Rivers Duddon, Crake and Mill Beck
• Rivers Ehen, Calder, Irt and Esk
• Rivers Greta, St Johns Beck and Bassenthwaite Lake
• Rivers Kent and Bela
• Rivers Lowther and Eamont
• Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwent Water

Weather forecast for the weekend

Light and intermittent showers are likely on Friday afternoon and into the evening, with heavy rain forecast by the end of the night across the region.

A cloudy and wet start to Saturday, with heavy rain likely again, before it turns brighter and drier by midday. Odd showers still expected through Saturday afternoon, going into Sunday.

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