IT will be remembered as the year the rains came ... and kept coming.
And festive spirits in South Tyneside were dampened yesterday as homes and roads were hit by the latest downpours that 2012 had to throw at the borough.
The rain caused traffic misery, as standing surface water caused many closures.
The A19 northbound was closed at noon between Testos roundabout in Boldon Colliery and Lindisfarne roundabout in Jarrow, along with the slip-road to the A184 being shut.
Just after 6pm, the A19 northbound was reopened fully.
Meanwhile, Moor Lane in Cleadon was sealed off, as was Cleadon Lane between the Charlie Hurley Centre and Whitburn Pond.
Traffic was reduced to one lane leading to Tyne Dock, while York Avenue and Durham Drive in Jarrow, along with Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, and Lizard Lane, Marsden, were also affected and only passable with care.
The Met Office is forecasting more heavy rain showers until Monday, and Northumbria Police are urging motorists to be careful.
The heavy rain triggered a response from South Tyneside Council and housing officials.
So-called ‘hot spot’ flooding areas were regularly monitored throughout the day by teams from the council and South Tyneside Homes.
Four gulley-clearing crews were also deployed to areas where needed.
A council spokesman said: “We’ve accessed our pre-prepared equipment ‘pods’ – they’re located in hot spot areas around the borough – for flood signage, sandbags and pumps.
“We’ve distributed sandbags where requested.”
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