Dramatic video shows High Force after Storm Ciara rainfall

An incredible video has been posted by the Raby Castle Instagram page that shows the increased water surge that struck High Force, one of Britain’s most spectacular and impressive waterfalls located in County Durham.

On Sunday, February 9, Storm Ciara hit the UK and the Met Office issued a nation wide yellow weather warning for strong winds and rain and for some areas was increased to an amber warning. While some regions got away with little to no damage other areas of the country were affected by 80mph winds that caused travel disruptions, destruction, flooding and power cuts.

High Force saw a significant increase in water flow, due to the amount of rain that washed into the River Tees and saw the normally serene landscape turn into ranging waters as Storm Ciara hit County Durham.

The River Tees plunges over an almost vertical cliff edge, and it’s origins date back to more than 300 million years ago. Heavy rainfall is known to cause water to flow over both the right and left channels – despite only the left-hand channel usually seeing water flow in ‘average’ weather conditions.

The waterfall near Middleton-in-Teesdale, swelled considerably on Sunday as the river flowed over the entire cliffside as occasionally, levels will get so high that it causes water to cascade over the central verge, this also happened back in 2015, after Storm Desmond.

The storm is over for now, but for many the after affects of Storm Ciara are still a reality, and the weather is still predicted to bring strong winds and rain over the next few days as ‘unsettled conditions are expected to dominate’ according to the Met Office, they said: “A very windy, wet spell of weather looks increasingly likely next weekend giving widespread gales.”

Video credit: The footage was taken at High Force Waterfall located near Middleton in Teesdale, Co Durham. You can visit the Waterfall and find out more at www.raby.co.uk/high-force