As it happened – Flooding updates for York and North Yorkshire, 22 January 2021

“Worryingly in a developing situation residents have been told to move items upstairs and prepare for flooding in Norton,” says Cllr Nathan Garbutt-Moore on Twitter.

Replying to the vice-chairman of Ryedale District Council, one resident writes to say: “Our street is now in the red area and we’ve had the automated call to say we need to prepare but we have no idea what has brought this on.”

Cllr Garbutt-More said: “Also trying to find out what the developments are, it did and was expected to start dropping after the peak this morning… it’s very different to the briefing I had earlier today.”

Many agencies are involved in the work to tackle the floodwater in Malton.

Nine emergency pumps are being used to pump the water safely back into the Derwent.

It rose to a record high of 5.05m – but the flood defences held.

Agencies have been working through the night to protect residents and properties.

Cllr Keane Duncan, leader of Ryedale District Council, said: “The river looks to have peaked at 5.05m earlier this morning.

“This is a new record high, but we can’t compare 2000 with 2021 as we now have the defences to protect the towns.

“The situation is under control at the moment with no major property flooding.

“We have a tried and tested plan, and we are putting that into place.

“Teams from the councils, fire and rescue and Environment Agency remain on the ground. Well done to all of them.

“Extra pumps have been drafted in overnight and this morning.

“There is more water in and around St Nicholas Street too and it is very icy under foot. County Bridge is not accessible to pedestrians, with Norton Road difficult to traverse due to pumps.

“Please stay safe out there if you do need to venture out.”

Our photographer Richard McDougall has been out and about in the city this morning, capturing the latest on the floods.

Levels of both rivers are falling. At 11.30am, the Ouse was at 4.55m – down from 4.6m at four hours earlier.

It is predicted to stay around this level until it starts dropping in the early hours of tomorrow (Saturday), reaching 4.26m at 11am.

The River Foss, meanwhile, has dropped to 1.80m at 11.45am, down from 1.98m at 7.45am.

It is receding fast, and Huntington Road reopened this morning.

Here are the latest road closures:

• Clementhorpe – closed at Terry Avenue
• Fordlands Road – closed, scaffold walkway in place to allow pedestrian access for essential travel
• Knavesmire Road – closed
• Main Street, Nether Poppleton – closed
• Millennium Bridge – closed
• Naburn Lane, Naburn – closed
• Naburn Village – closed
• Skeldergate – closed, access to City Mills sheltered housing via City Mills bridge.

St George’s Field car park, Esplanade car parks and Rowntree Park and car park are also closed, due to high river levels.

The floods in pictures

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A boat sank in the River Ouse early this morning.

Firefighters were called out shortly after midnight to the river at Bishopthorpe, opposite the Naburn Sewage Works.

A pleasure craft had sunk still secured to a floating platform. But other boat owners were concerned it would break free.

Using the Fire Rescue Boat, a crew inspected the boat.

A North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Crews attended an incident involving a boat that had sunk whilst still secured to a floating platform.

“The boat was in a safe and stable condition, crews carried out an inspection only and gave advice to neighbouring boats to monitor the situation overnight.”

Here’s the latest flood warning for the River Ouse at Selby Dam, issued at 3.50am today: “This Flood Warning has been issued in response to rising levels on Selby Dam due to recent rainfall. The areas most at risk are around Leeds Road in Selby.

“We have teams on site at Selby Dam Pumping Station, and are monitoring the situation closely. No further significant rainfall is forecast for the next 24 hours. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and do not drive through flood water.”

It had reached 3.93m at 8:30am.

The River Derwent in York is about to peak at just over 5m above normal levels.

The Environment Agency told BBC Radio York the flood defences should hold, although it will be a “big test” for them.

The good news we heard yesterday seems to be holding in York.

Today the River Ouse in the city has reached 4.6m and is predicted to rise to 4.71m – which means the temporary flood defences should hold.

For the Foss, there’s even better news. By 7.45am it had fallen to 1.98m and is set to continue to fall.