Christmas Storms

The water tower is high and dry by a very long way.   If we ever flood the country is in serious trouble.   Nonetheless the Christmas of 2015 has been disastrous for many people in the North West of England as Atlantic storm Desmond was followed by storm Eva on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.   Many communities have been flooded for the third time in the month of December.

Settle has, so far, escaped the worst of it.   Here is the river Ribble at Queen's Rock in normal times:

Queen's Rock is the massive glacial boulder centre left.   It doesn't look like it but it is the size of a house.   This Boxing Day the water was right over the top of it and the trees a little higher up the river were awash, as was the riverside footpath:

With the camera on a different setting, this is a side view of Queen's Rock:

And looking downstream from the Millennium footbridge:

What the pictures do not convey is the sound and speed of the river.   All this water, and much more, is destined for the historic Roman town of Ribchester, many miles downstream, which was inundated by floodwater.

Our rooftop weather station recorded 117.8mm (4.65 inches) of rain during the last 7 days.