Manchester homes evacuated as Storm Christoph wreaks havoc.
Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Greater Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.
People were also asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin and Bangor on Dee in North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside.
It comes as heavy rain and snow continued to fall across England and Wales, with many rivers at “dangerously high levels”, the Environment Agency said.
Four “severe” flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were issued by the agency for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden, and in Maghull.
Amber and yellow weather warnings are in force until Thursday for Storm Christoph, which is also threatening to bring up to 30cm of snow to northern areas.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier urged people to heed the flood warnings and evacuate their properties when told to do so.
Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Nick Bailey said a flood basin in Didsbury, which takes water from the RiverMersey, was full and will “over-top in the next few hours”.
“As a result, we will be issuing a flood warning to homes,” he said.
“This will be through texted flood alerts to some people and police officers, PCSOs, firefighters, and volunteers will be knocking on doors.
“We have identified about 160 people that will be moved. There will be provision at Wythenshawe Forum and hotels are being used.
“Some of those that are being evacuated will also be Covid-positive or isolating at home.”
Mr Bailey said up to 3,000 properties in Greater Manchester could be affected by flooding, with a peak expected at 11pm on Wednesday.
Two “severe” flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, have been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Mersey at East and West Didsbury, and Northenden.
North Wales Police said its officers were helping the fire service to evacuate homes in Ruthin, and urged people to avoid the area.
The force tweeted: “Officers have been called to assist @DenbighshireCC and @NWFRS in #Ruthin, where some homes are being evacuated.
“Regrettably, people who do not live locally are driving to the area to ‘see the floods’. Please do not stretch our resources by adding to the problem.”
Downing Street has said Covid-secure facilities will be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather.
Mr Johnson said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be “severe” and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.
He told reporters: “There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.
“It is their right not to do so if they choose – it’s always people’s right to stay wherever they are.
“But it really is advisable – follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.”
Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge described Storm Christoph as “quite a slow-moving system” which is bringing “a variety of weather” to the UK.
The meteorologist said: “While rain remains the main hazard in the south, further north we’ve got snow and ice remaining a risk.
“The system will work its way through, we are expecting significant totals of rainfall and when you combine that with snowmelt it can lead to localised flooding across the affected regions.”
There is a risk of further snow later in the week as Storm Christoph makes its way east, with accumulations expected in Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland, Mr Madge added.
Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber from 9am on Thursday to January 25.
Dr Owen Landeg, principal environmental public health scientist at PHE, urged people to “keep looking out” for frail or older neighbours and relatives, particularly those living alone or with a serious illness.
People were preparing for rising floodwaters in West Yorkshire on Wednesday morning, with towns in the Calder Valley laying out sandbags and flood wardens monitoring water levels.