River Aire rising – but Hunslet riverside not hit too hard

Today’s heavy rainfall (Saturday 16 March 2019) in Leeds and across the region saw the River Aire full to the brim in Leeds city centre and along the Hunslet riverfront – but the communities along the river escaped serious flooding.

From 2.30pm onwards, the river was recorded to be outside its typical range – and sections of towpath, especially between Leeds Dock (formerly known as Clarence Dock) and the H2010 community halfway to Thwaite Mills, were reported as flooded. Water was lapping around the base of the Royal Armouries building, and Fearns Island outside the Armouries was partially submerged.

However, no residential properties were affected – and Knostrop Weir, part of the Flood Alleviation Scheme, was lowered this evening, to speed the release of water out of the city. Click here for info on the weir.

With the rain now having stopped, and the region due only very limited rain in the coming week, the flooding and flood warnings are expected to subside. However, sign up for future flood warnings here. And click here to get involved with riverside community clear-ups – which particularly tackle the debris generated by flooding – via the River Stewardship Company.