Site last updated 30/11/2011

Environment Agency online river levels are now available - click on the image to the right go to Northumberland Rivers

Understanding the graphs

There are four online gauging stations upstream of Morpeth that can be viewed to get some idea of how the Wansbeck is reacting to different weather conditions.

Nunnykirk, just below the Font reservoir

Hartburn, on the Hart

Middleton Bridge, on the Upper Wansbeck

Mitford, after the convergence of the Font and Wansbeck

The gauge at Oldgate Bridge is not online

The snapshots below were taken after 3-5 hours of heavy rain (4-8mm/hr) had fallen on the Wansbeck catchment on the morning and afternoon of 29th September 2010

Nunnykirk 30/9/2010

Middleton Bridge 30/9/2010

There was only a marginal rise in river level at Nunnykirk, this was probably due to the reservoir taking up excess volume.

Both Hartburn and Middleton levels rose dramatically at about 3pm. This filtered down to Mitford four to five hours later and probably hit Morpeth ten minutes after that.

This sort of information is used by the Environment Agency staff to keep residents of Morpeth aware of what the likelihood of flooding is at Oldgate Bridge,and when any danger has passed.

It is also used to help determine when the flood watches and warnings are issued

Hartburn 30/9/2010

Mitford 30/9/2010