Live: Met Office yellow warning for ice as storm subsides
by
Last updated Jan 21, 2021
Boroughbridge flooding
Flooding in Boroughbridge today.

Residents in the Harrogate district woke today to more flood warnings after days of heavy rain.

Keep refreshing this page to get the latest updates on weather and travel.

Help to keep our live blog up to date by sending pictures and information about flooding to [email protected].


4.30pm – Boroughbridge residents fight the flood

People in Boroughbridge have been fighting hard to keep their homes and businesses dry as the river and canal spill over.

We sent a reporter to the town to see how people were coping with the floods.

Read our report here: https://thestrayferret.co.uk/boroughbridge-care-home-garage-and-homeowners-fight-floods/


3.07pm – Met Office yellow warning for ice tonight

Storm Christoph may be abating but weather problems are likely to persist, according to the latest Met Office update. It says river levels could continue to rise “for a little longer” and colder weather is on its way.

A yellow warning for ice is in place for the Harrogate district tonight. Temperatures are forecast to fall as low as minus one degree centigrade tonight and sub-zero nighttime temperatures are forecast until Monday.

https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1352269742548115456


2.35pm – York-Leeds trains cancelled for today

The train operator has said the weather is causing some issues on its lines meaning services between York and Leeds will be withdrawn for the rest of the day.

Northern added it was working with Network Rail to recover the tracks following the bad weather.

https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1352247289629257728


1.35pm – Number of flood alerts and warnings reduces

Is the situation improving? There are now eight flood warning and alerts in place in the Harrogate district, compared with 11 last night. Areas near Boroughbridge seem to be experiencing the main threat now.

Flood warnings, which are more severe, remain active for:

Swinney Beck in Masham

River Ure at Roecliffe caravan park

River Ure at Milby Island

River Nidd at Hunsingore

Flood alerts are in place for:

Upper River Nidd catchment

Lower River Nidd catchment

Lower River Ure

Lower Dunsforth Access


12.39pm – Fountains Abbey affected by storm damage

Fountains Abbey has withstood some tumultuous times but Storm Christoph has left a scar.


11.36am – Warnings over travel on A59 at Whixley

North Yorkshire County Council has issued a warning to drivers travelling between Harrogate and York.

It says the A59 at Whixley is only ‘passable with care’ thanks to water on the carriageway.

Other roads affected are Tockwith Road in Long Marston and Spofforth Lane in North Deighton.

A full list of road closures and affected routes can be found on NYCC’s website.


10.53am – List of roads affected by weather

North Yorkshire County Council has just published seven tweets listing which roads in the county have been affected by weather.

Many are not in the Harrogate district but the east of the district, around Cattal and Bishop Monkton, features prominently.

New Row, between Darley and Birstwith, is also on the list.


10.20am – Homes may flood in Masham

The government’s flood information service has updated at 10am to say homes may flood in Masham today.

“River levels have risen as a result of heavy rainfall associated with Storm Christoph.

“Consequently, flooding of property is possible. Areas most at risk are properties along Westholme Road.

“No further significant rainfall is expected today. We are closely monitoring the situation.

“Our incident response staff are closely monitoring the forecast.

“Please put your flood plan into action and activate any property flood protection products you may have.”


10.15am – Firefighters pump water from flooded Harrogate home

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue pumped flood water from a basement in Harrogate this morning.

The incident summary for the night details how the crew used a light portable pump at the property on Lancaster Road at 8.30am.

A crew also attended a property in Nun Monkton surrounded by floodwater and gave advice to the homeowner.


10am – More than 100 flood warnings and alerts

There are currently 65 flood warnings and 52 flooding alerts across North Yorkshire and the surrounding area.

North Yorkshire County Council has warned people to only travel if the journey is essential and to not drive through flooded roads.

The government’s flood alert system is currently a sea of orange and red warnings across the UK and North Yorkshire.


9am – Close call for Knaresborough caravan park

Residents living at the Nidderdale Lodge Park in Knaresborough had a close call with the river Nidd’s water levels last night.

This picture below shows just how high the water is this morning. The resident said the blue bench (pictured) was submerged last night but it has not reached the same levels as in 2015.

Photograph: Margaret Pearson


8am – River Nidd flowing fast in aftermath of Storm Christoph

Our reporter captured this video of a fast-flowing river Nidd near Killinghall this morning.

Storm Christoph now appears to have passed but many residents in the district will have to keep a close eye on the rivers near them.


7.30am – Boroughbridge river levels peak at 15 metres

The river Ure in Boroughbridge reached 15 metres over night and appears to be on the way down.

According to the Gauge Map, the river levels topped off at around 2am last night.

While still high, the river lowered to 14.8 metres at around 7am this morning.


7am – Harrogate district through worst of heavy rain

The Met Office no longer has any weather warnings in place for the Harrogate district after days of heavy rain.

Forecasters are predicting some showers to hit around midday but only for around a couple of hours.

Friday and the weekend is set to be largely dry, providing relief for rivers running at high levels.


6.40am – Several flood warnings in place

The government’s flood information service added more flood warnings to the Harrogate district last night.

Swinney Beck in Masham and the Bishop Monkton Beck are the latest to be added to the list of places expected to flood.

Warnings also remain in place for Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Low Laithe.

Flood warnings are more sever than alerts and mean that “flooding is expected,” with “immediate action required.”