Flood alerts have been issued across the North East as the region is battered by heavy rain and strong winds. 

A yellow weather warning is in place for Thursday (September 26) as The Met Office predicts 40mph and above wind gusts and heavy showers throughout the day. 

A string of orange flood alerts have since been issued by the Government for the Upper River Tees, Middlesbrough Becks, Redcar and Cleveland coastal streams, the Lower River Wear, and Rivers Derwent, Team, Don and estuarine tributaries. 

People have been urged to avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.  

River levels are expected to keep rising following the heavy rainfall last night and this morning - and the situation will be closely monitored throughout the day.


Here's a breakdown of all the alerts:

Lower River Wear

River levels are forecast to rise on the Lower River Wear with heavy rainfall forecasted from 9pm this evening throughout the night.

The Government expects rivers to respond from the early hours of Thursday with the potential to bring high isolated totals.

Flood alert area: Lower River Wear from Escomb to Sunderland including the Rivers Browney, Cong Burn and Lumley Park Burn.

 

Upper River Tees

River levels are rising on the Upper Tees due, with flooding possible at riverside footpaths and low lying land and roads. The areas most affected will be Middleton in Teesdale and Rutherford Bridge.

Further rainfall is expected throughout the day and river levels are forecast to remain high until this evening. 

Flood alert area: Low lying land in the Tees Valley, including Teesdale Way footpath at Croft.

 

Middlesbrough Becks

River levels are rising on the Middlesbrough Becks due heavy rain on which will continue throughout today, meaning flooding is possible. 

Flood alert area: Middlesbrough Becks including the Marton West Beck, Newham Beck, Ormesby Beck, Middle Beck and Spencer Beck.


Redcar and Cleveland

River levels are rising on the Coastal Streams in Cleveland and Redcar including the Kilton Beck and Loftus Beck.

Areas most at risk include riverside footpaths and low lying land and roads, where flooding is possible from 11am. The flood gates at Skinningrove may close this afternoon.

Flood alert area: Coastal Streams in Cleveland and Redcar including the Skelton Beck and Skinningrove Beck.

 

Rivers Derwent, Team and Don

River levels are forecast to rise on the Rivers Derwent, Team and Don with heavy rainfall forecasted to move across the region from 9pm this evening.

Rivers are expected to respond from the early hours of Thursday with the potential to bring high isolated totals.

Flood alert area: Rivers Derwent, Team, Don, their tributaries and south bank tributaries of the Tyne estuary.

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The Met Office said: "A period of heavy and persistent rain is expected to affect parts of northern England and north Midlands during much of Thursday.

"The heaviest rainfall is likely to be across the Pennines and North York Moors where 80-100 mm of rainfall could accumulate during the course of the day.

"Elsewhere, totals are likely to be lower, reaching 20-30 mm widely but with a risk of 50-70 mm in some locations."