The sandbags are back: York builds flood barriers as Storm Christoph rolls in

York is preparing for further river rises with flood protection measures in the city centre.

City of York Council workers have been busy constructing sandbag barriers at known flooding points, including next to Tower Gardens.

They have also been installing a temporary flood walkway on Skeldergate, close to Terry Avenue, as the waters continue to rise.

Two flood warnings are in place in York, and three flood alerts, as Storm Christoph rolls in.

The Ouse is forecast to rise to 3.68m by 9am tomorrow (Wednesday) and could top 4m. Riverside property flooding is possible above 3m.

Prolonged problems

It comes as forecasters warn that Storm Christoph will herald a prolonged period of unsettled weather.

North Yorkshire is covered by both amber and yellow rain alerts for the next three days

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said: “It’s not going to be a short burst of bad weather like you may think of in terms of storms in the past where it quickly blows through overnight.

“It’s really persistent heavy rain, the rain really is going to be persistent, just continuing all the way through today and tomorrow and into Thursday.”

The picture will change as low pressure could introduce colder air.

He explained: “As we go through the week and the low pressure that is bringing these fronts of rainfall that are persistent and heavy over the next few days … as that low pressure moves east and out into the North Sea, the winds will become a thing really later in the week.

“Also as the low pressure moves away it pulls down a north-westerly airflow which brings much colder air across the UK again which then presents a further risk of snow.”