Events cancelled and flooding alerts as Storm Bert hits Black Country and Staffs

The effects of Storm Bert has caused events to be cancelled due to safety concerns across the Black Country and parts of Staffordshire.

While the area was not as badly affected as other areas, Christmas light switch-on events scheduled to bring thousands of people out to celebrate the festival season had to be cancelled due to fears around adverse weather conditions.

Dudley Council made the announcement around midday on Saturday that the switch-on events in Dudley and Brierley Hill could not take place, although the council said the town centre shops and stalls were open as normal to shoppers. 

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “Sadly, due to the weather we have taken the difficult decision to cancel today's Christmas lights switch on events in Dudley and Brierley Hill.

“Town centres shops and stalls are open as normal for shoppers.”

Elsewhere, the planned switch-on events in West Bromwich and Tettenhall had already been cancelled due to the predicted heavy winds and rain, while the East Park Parkrun was cancelled due to ice on the track.

The West Bromwich Business Improvement District (BID) announced the event has been cancelled on Friday on social media.

The message read: "We regret to inform you all that our much-anticipated Christmas light switch-on for 2024 has been cancelled due to weather conditions predicted for tomorrow. 

"Storm Bert is against us unfortunately and the safety of staff and public come first. As you can imagine everyone at the BID are very disappointed and all the hard work that has been put into making this a successful event each year.

"We can only apologise but it's completely out of our control."

A Wolverhampton Council spokesman said: "With Storm Bert due to hit the city early tomorrow morning, we have been closely monitoring the weather forecast which includes torrential rain and gale force winds throughout tomorrow. 

"With this in mind, we have taken the decision to postpone the Tettenhall Christmas lights switch-on until Tuesday, November 26 (between 4.30pm to 6.30pm) as public safety must be our top priority." 

"We hope to see you all on Tuesday evening to light up Tettenhall for Christmas."

A message on the East Park Parkrun Facebook page said: " Unfortunately, with ice still on the course and storm Bert on the way, we have taken the decision to cancel East Park parkrun tomorrow. 

"It’s never an easy call to make but the safety of runners and volunteers has to be the top priority."

However, after the ice cleared, a hardy group of runners braved the cold and wet conditions at West Park to get their Parkrun in.

A spokesman for West Park Parkrun said: " Well, Bert was quite kind to us here in Wolverhampton in the end. 

"He sent just enough wind and rain to melt the remaining ice and kept the worst of it out in the Atlantic it seems. 

"Let's hope he remains kind to everyone everywhere this weekend.

"Nevertheless,  an extra huge thank you to the wonderful volunteers to brave less than ideal conditions and well done to all, you looked like you were enjoying it."

The conditions played havoc with football fixtures at the lower levels of the English Football Pyramid, with games at Bilston Town, Cradley Town, Gornal Athletic and Wednesfield Community in the Midlands League Division One all falling foul of the conditions.

Flood alerts also remain in place in Stafford and around the River Stour, with the Government Floodline site listed both as Flood Alerts.

The site said for Stafford: "River levels are high at the Coven river gauge as a result of rainfall associated with Storm Bert. 

"Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is possible overnight into Sunday as more rain is forecast. 

"Flooding is likely to affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Sow between Great Bridgeford and Shugborough, the River Penk between Coven and Stafford, the Sandyford Brook, the Rising Brook, the Ridings Brook and the Saredon Brook.

"We are keeping this alert out as a precautionary measure.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff have been out checking defences, clearing weedscreens and we are actively checking river levels and the weather forecast."

For the River Stour, the site said: "River levels have risen at the Halesowen Manor Way river gauge as a result of rainfall associated with Storm Bert. 

"Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is expected throughout Saturday and into Sunday. 

"Flooding is expected to affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Stour and Smestow Brook.

"Further rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are checking defences, clearing screens and actively checking river levels and the weather forecast."

The Met Office forecast for the night and into Sunday was for unsettled weather with further spells of heavy rain and wind, but looking to become more mild into Sunday.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "It will remain unsettled this evening and overnight with further spells of heavy rain, becoming persistent again through the early hours. 

"Staying very windy but a much milder night to come in the southwesterly winds. Minimum temperature 10 °C.

"For Sunday, it will be another damp day with spells of heavy rain, lingering the most across eastern parts of the region. Very mild compared to recent days and staying windy. Maximum temperature 15 °C."