Storm Ciera

Storm Ciera has been with us all night but we have not heard a thing, low down and triple glazed behind the immense stone wall of the water tower but the driving rain is giving us a stern test.  No rain penetration anywhere happily.

The river Ribble on which Settle sits is prone to rapid risen and falls given its immense catchment area of the Yorkshire Dales.  The Met Office has just issued flood warnings for the Ribble through Settle, especially the area around Settle Bridge:

Fingers crossed for the people who live in that area, and at Mearbeck by the by-pass.  That by-pass, a boon to Settle in that much traffic was diverted, created a huge dam at Mearbeck, seen at the bottom of the map.  That leads to occasional flooding - today almost certainly.

This is Settle's Millennium Bridge this morning.  Queens Rock is well covered:

https://www.facebook.com/philip.lord2/videos/10221231156998229/

Just taken the ducking fog* for walkies (she obliged promptly) and returned home soaked.  Called by the station.  Northern did bravely attempt a normal service today but first train north had to turn back at Skipton.  Seems like local roads are impassable so Settle is in effect cut off just now.

*ducking fog - n. term of affection for canine companion.  Feline equivalent is cooking fat.