Yes, after a brief flood a couple of weeks ago, the River Ouse in York has risen again and we now have a deeper flood this weekend. This shot was taken yesterday afternoon as the flood water was still slowly rising. The river reached a peak of 4.1 metres (13.5 feet) above normal summer level at around 7am this morning and the level is now dropping.
This view will be well known to anyone living in the Yorkshire area. A very simular shot appeared on our local newspaper website, and it is the popular viewpoint used by local tv news to report the flood. The river itself can be identified by the fast flowing disturbed water.
It looks drastic, but relatively few properties were affected. The land rises quite sharply behind this row of riverside properties, as can be seen from the roof heights. All the properties affected by flood water have flood resiliance measures enabling them to recover quickly.
The Kings Arms pub, on the left, has its beers stored on the upper floor rather than in a cellar, the ground floor is stone flagged with internal bare brick walls, so once the flood water level drops, an application of clean water and disinfectant soon has it ready for use. In previous floods I've seen it back in business before the flood water has fully receeded back into the river, which shows how quick the recovery process is.
Most of the city is functioning as normal. It would be quite possible to visit the city without even realising there was a flood.
A great capture of a scary flood scene...It sounds like the lower level buildings' owners have done their homework in securing their buildings against flood water.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I have to say that in comparison to the floods in 1978/9 and 1982 when many hundreds of houses were flooded, relatively few properties are now affected (except in 2015 when an equipment failure caused a lot of properties beside the River Foss to flood). Since 2015 many of the defences have been upgraded, with a much stronger pumping station and movable barrier installed on the River Foss, and a program of raising fixed defences by a metre (just over 3 feet) underway along the River Ouse. The flood bank nearest to our home is currently in the process of being raised. Recently a scheme to protect 130 houses in Clementhorpe was completed. So progress is being made, but it is very expensive.
@fishers I have to wonder who/where floods further down river. Not just the Ouse, but any river that’s had flood defences built, flood plains built upon, rivers straightened. The water has to go somewhere, doesn’t it?
Part of the problem with the River Ouse in York is that the channel is narrower than it was historically, which will tend to force the river level upwards. Once south of York there are a number of areas where the river can spread out in a more natural way, starting with Nun Ings and Fulford Ings. Flooding can still be a problem at places like Cawood and Selby though.
Great capture
Powerful capture
fav
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I have to say that in comparison to the floods in 1978/9 and 1982 when many hundreds of houses were flooded, relatively few properties are now affected (except in 2015 when an equipment failure caused a lot of properties beside the River Foss to flood). Since 2015 many of the defences have been upgraded, with a much stronger pumping station and movable barrier installed on the River Foss, and a program of raising fixed defences by a metre (just over 3 feet) underway along the River Ouse. The flood bank nearest to our home is currently in the process of being raised. Recently a scheme to protect 130 houses in Clementhorpe was completed. So progress is being made, but it is very expensive.
Ian
On the other hand, with the regular media publicity, they don't need an advertising budget!
Ian
Part of the problem with the River Ouse in York is that the channel is narrower than it was historically, which will tend to force the river level upwards. Once south of York there are a number of areas where the river can spread out in a more natural way, starting with Nun Ings and Fulford Ings. Flooding can still be a problem at places like Cawood and Selby though.
Ian
The buildings have been updated with flood resiliance features, so not as bad as it would once have been.
Ian