THE Met Office believes the worst of the stormy weather has passed over Cumbria and says winds should ease overnight.

Throughout the day roads across South Cumbria, Eden and North Yorkshire have been closed due to flooding, but conditions are to get better overnight.

A Met Office spokesman said: "We have an amber warning over Cumbria which is in effect until approximately 9pm tonight and the winds are expected to ease off.

"Tomorrow [Friday] should be much calmer and the worst of it has now passed, with the winds starting to back off a little bit."

The spokesman said there should be bright spells across Cumbria on Friday but temperatures would plummet to -2 or -3 degrees celsius overnight into Saturday, with a maximum day temperature on Saturday of 4 or 5 degrees celsius.

But despite conditions improving for the most part across the region, the A684 at Hawes has just been closed as the full effects hit North Yorkshire.

The road has been closed between Brunt Acres Road (Hawes) and Low Wood Lane (Leyburn). Flooding and surface water is affecting most of the A684 but it is particularly severe over the Yorkshire Dales.

Flooding has also been reported in the last 30 minutes on Fall Kirk at Aughton Road, Gressingham, which is affecting traffic passing through the village and over the bridge.

Reports have also come into the Westmorland Gazette from drivers who spotted branches falling into the road along the A684 near Kendal, after coming off the M6 at junction 37.

In the South Lakes a fallen tree closed the Atkinson Ground Road in Coniston between the B5285 junction and the Tinkler Beck and matrix signs were advising motorists to travel at 50mph on the M6 near junction 36.

Flood warnings were issued for Rivers Kent, Bela, Rothay, Brathay and Winster as well as the Rivers Eaumont, Lowther and Upper Eden.

Cumbria Police urged motorists to take extra care due to heavy rainfall and strong winds while the sluice gates at Newby Bridge were opened to help reduce the risks of overflow on Windermere.

Below are some of the problems encountered through Cumbria on Thursday.

Traffic problems

- The A592 Patterdale Road at Windermere and the A6 Shap Road in Kendal were closed due to flooding.

- At 7.44am, police were called by a man who got stuck in his vehicle while travelling through flood water on the A591 close to the Low Wood Hotel in Ambleside. The A591 has now been reopened.

- At 8.07am, police were called by a woman whose car broke down in a deep puddle on Thwaites Lane, Windermere.

- At 8.16am, a man called police to report that he was stuck in flood waters in a red Fiat on Moorhowe Road, Troutbeck.

- At 8.35am, police were called to reports of a Ford Fiesta stuck in flood water on the south side of the A6, just past Selside.

- The A595 from Kirkstone at Cookhouse corner was temporarily closed - There were reports of water on the south side of the A6, just past Selside and police officers have been in attendance.

- In Eden temporary road closures were in place in Plumpton (bottom of village) and at Garrigill due to a landslide onto the road from Alston Ruckcroft near Armathwaite.

- There were reports of flood water on Moorhowe Road, Troutbeck, the A592 at Glenridding, the A689 Nentsbury, the A6 at Shap, Appleby town centre, Salkeld Road, Penrith and Little Strickland.

- Atkinson Ground Road in Coniston was closed due to a fallen tree between the B5285 junction and the Tinkler Beck.

- Matrix signs were set to 50mph at junction 36 of the M6 and also for A590 for Kirkby Lonsdale due to strong winds.

- The westbound A66 was closed between Scotch Corner and Middleton Tyas after an earlier flooding incident.

Tell us about the flooding in your area by calling 01539 710157 or email your photos to patrick.okane@kendal.newsquest.co.uk

Last updated 6 minutes ago

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