List of floods in Sheffield

This is a list of floods in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.

Background

Sheffield is located on the confluence of seven major rivers (Don, Porter, Loxley, Rivelin, Rother, Sheaf, and Moss), and is nestled in Seven Hills. As a result, it is prone to flooding.

• 1864: A newly built dam, at Low Bradfield on the River Loxley, broke while it was being filled for the first time. An estimated 3 million m³ (700 million imperial gallons) of water swept down the Loxley Valley, through Loxley village and on to Malin Bridge and Hillsborough, where the River Loxley joins the River Don. The flood wrecked nearly every bridge as far as Lady’s Bridge, destroyed 800 houses, and killed 270 people.
• 1973: An estimated 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain fell in just one day, leading to severe flooding, despite there being much less development on the flood plain than in later floods.^[1]
• 2000: The area of Catcliffe suffered from severe flooding due to heavy rainfall. Local flood barriers were built following the flooding after demands by residents.^[2]
• 2007: On 25 June, Sheffield suffered extensive damage as the River Don over-topped its banks, causing widespread flooding in the Don Valley area of the city. A 14-year-old boy was swept away by the swollen River Sheaf^[3] and a 68-year-old man died after attempting to cross a flooded road in Sheffield city centre.^[4] The Meadowhall shopping centre was closed due to flooding with some shops remaining closed downstairs until late September and Sheffield Wednesday's ground Hillsborough was under 6 feet (1.83 m) of water. A number of people had to be rescued by RAF helicopters from buildings in the Brightside area.
• 2009: Flash flooding due to a sudden torrential rainfall on 10 June left Norfolk Park, Arbourthorne and parts of the city centre up to 5 feet deep in floodwater. Many people in areas affected by the floods in 2007 again faced evacuation from their homes. Sheffield railway station suspended all departures and arrivals at 7:20 PM, with train services from Manchester being turned away earlier in the afternoon due to flooding in the city. An underground car park at Ponds Forge leisure centre was submerged in water. Shoreham Street, outside Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football ground, suffered from severe flooding despite not being particularly affected two years earlier, with many southern areas of the city suffering the worst of the flooding, in contrast to 2007.^[5]
• 2012: A day of heavy rainfall on 7 July on already saturated ground led to flash flooding and rapidly rising river levels in the area. South Yorkshire Police advised the public to avoid the Meadowhall area because of dangerously high water levels on the River Don. An emergency command centre was set up by local authorities over fears of flooding in the city.^[6]

References

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulhudson/2012/07/whats-causing-our-extreme-weat.shtml
2. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/jul2007/floo-j16.shtml
3. "Family tribute to flood death boy". BBC News Online (BBC.). 26 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
4. Heath, Richard (26 June 2007). "Two die in city floods". The Star (Sheffield Newspapers Ltd.). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
5. http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/floods-bring-more-misery-to-sheffield-1-286931
6. "South Yorkshire flood clean-up after heavy rainfall". BBC News. 10 July 2012.