The flash-flooding that followed affected many communities destroying bridges, sweeping roads away, causing landslips on railway lines and resulting in at least one public event being cancelled.

[note 1][6] The wettest location in the Yorkshire Dales is Snaizeholme (near to Widdale) 1,900 feet (579 m) above sea level, and where the average annual rainfall is 77 inches (1,957 mm).

[14] Most of these flood events have been described as "intense, highly localized convectional summer storms, under anticyclonic conditions, or by slow moving or near-stationary fronts.

[17] Most flooding events in Britain have been the result of a climatic condition known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO-) when it has been in a negative phase, which can lead to wetter seasons.

[20][21] On the 30 July 2019, the Yorkshire Dales and east Cumbria regions experienced extreme above average rainfall from what is typically expected in the summertime.

[34] A bridge that spanned the same stream on the B6270 between Downholme and Grinton, was weakened and became unsafe to drive over and additionally, part of that road was washed away.

"[40] Whilst no deaths were reported, there were some injuries and close-calls; the landlady of the Red Lion Inn in Langthwaite was in her pub when water came in with such force that it was 5 feet (1.5 m) deep and leaving her submerged up to her chin.

[44] The Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) went to help people caught in the flooding, including one family who were trapped upstairs in their house.

[30] The Ard Rock off-road cycling event, that is held annually in Grinton over the first weekend in August, had to be called-off as the campsite, and main showground, were submerged underwater.

[49] The troops from the 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment were understood to have been asked by their commanding officer to assist in the clean-up operation rather than being called in by the authorities.

[56] A treasure chest of £3 million was released to North Yorkshire County Council under the Bellwin scheme for the repair of the two ruined bridges.

[58] At the end of September 2019, residents in Grinton were still waiting for remediation to be carried out on the beck that drops down the southern edge of the dale, and into the River Swale.

[53] In October 2019, the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) held a Reeth Wallathon to help repair many broken boundaries in the fields; they managed to rebuild over 720 feet (220 m).

The local newspaper, the Darlington and Stockton Times, said the effects of the flash-flooding were long-lasting and described the event as "monsoon-like weather".

[60] In February 2020, the local authority's application for extra funding was refused by the government as the flash-flooding was not deemed severe enough in terms of damage to properties and livelihoods.