FLOODING is expected to hit Hereford in the wake of Storm Gerrit as the river Wye rises.

A flood alert has been issued for the river Wye in Herefordshire, alongside another new flood alert for the river Arrow. A flood alert remains in force for the river Lugg south of Leominster.

Flood alerts

River Wye

The Environment Agency said river levels are rising at the Hay-On-Wye river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

Flooding of low-lying roads and farmland along the river Wye is expected to begin between 11am and 1pm today (December 27) from Hay-on-Wye to Ross-on-Wye. Other locations that may be affected include the A438, Byford, Bredwardine and Hereford.

The river is expected to peak in Hay-on-Wye at 3.5 to four metres this evening, 5.6 to 6.1 metres overnight at Bredwardine, 5.3 to 5.8 metres at Belmont tomorrow morning, 4.7 to 5.2 metres at the Old Bridge tomorrow morning, and 4.7 to 5.2 metres at Mordiford tomorrow afternoon.

The predicted levels for the Old Bridge in Hereford put the river into the flood warning zone, if reached, which starts at 4.7 metres. 

The highest level ever recorded on the Wye at the old Bridge is 6.11 metres, which it reached on February 17, 2020.

ALSO READ: Storm Gerrit: weather warnings and flood alerts in force

River Arrow

River levels are rising at the Titley Mill river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall, with flooding of low-lying land and roads along the Arrow from Michaelchurch to Brierley today. Other areas that may be affected include Kington, Staunton and Eardisland.

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River Lugg

River levels continue to fall very slowly but remain high at the Lugwardine river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

Flooding is expected to affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the Lugg south of Leominster from Stoke Prior to Mordiford. Other locations that may be affected include Bodenham, Lugwardine and Hampton Bishop.

River Frome

River levels are rising at the Bishops Frome river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall, with flooding of property, roads and farmland expected.

Low-lying land and roads along the river Frome from Bromyard to Hereford are expected to be affected. Other locations that may be affected include Bishops Frome and Yarkhill.