Several flood alerts and a flood warning remain in force across parts of Yorkshire following weeks of persistent rainfall that has left rivers swollen and ground saturated.
The Environment Agency has issued one flood warning for the River Ouse in York, meaning flooding is expected, along with four flood alerts across the region, indicating that flooding is possible. Areas affected include parts of the River Went in West Yorkshire and the River Derwent in North Yorkshire.
Recent images from York show the River Ouse bursting its banks, with floodwater spilling onto pavements and roads in the city centre.
Forecasters say the unsettled conditions are the result of a “blocked” weather pattern that has lingered for several weeks, preventing more settled systems from moving in.
BBC climate correspondent Paul Hudson said that since 1 December, Sheffield’s Weston Park weather station has recorded nine inches (22 centimetres) of rainfall over a 70-day period around 114 per cent of the average expected for that time of year.
“There is no doubt that the weather has been relentlessly overcast and wet for weeks, with weather patterns stuck in a rut,” he said.
Although rainfall totals have been high, much of the rain has not been particularly intense, which has so far limited more severe flooding. However, Mr Hudson warned that the saturated ground means rivers remain vulnerable.
“The land is now saturated, but, so far, what has prevented any real flooding issues is that much of the rain that has fallen has not been heavy,” he explained. “Until warmer and drier weather arrives in spring, our region’s rivers will remain at risk of flooding, should any rainfall in what is left of winter turn heavier.”
Further rain is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting the Environment Agency to advise residents to remain vigilant to the risk of significant flooding.
In Fishlake, near Doncaster, where a flood alert was lifted on Tuesday afternoon, councillors are due to meet to discuss what long-term support the Environment Agency can provide to help prevent future flooding.
The village was severely affected during the devastating floods of 2019, when the River Don burst its banks and inundated around 90 per cent of homes and businesses.
Wendy Brownbridge, a church warden at St Cuthbert’s Church in Fishlake, described the anxiety residents continue to feel during heavy rain.
“The frightening part is at night when you cannot see anything and it is pouring with rain. You never know what is happening further up the river in Sheffield,” she said. “How can you prepare for flooding and move your furniture anywhere? You just cannot. It is about losing everything.”
Ahead of the parish council meeting, Peter Trimmingham, a local flood warden, said the community is realistic about financial constraints but wants ongoing attention from authorities.
“We know there will not be a great injection of finance at this time, but we want continued focus,” he said. “We are looking carefully at what plans are coming up with the Environment Agency, to see what can be done and what is realistic.”
With rivers already running high and the ground unable to absorb much additional rainfall, the threat of flooding remains elevated across the region. Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to monitor updates, check flood warnings regularly, and prepare where possible.
While no widespread severe flooding has yet occurred, officials caution that conditions could deteriorate quickly if heavier rainfall develops before the arrival of drier spring weather.