Flood warning and alert in place for York city centre

York residents have been warned to stay safe today and into tomorrow as high river levels mean that some areas of the city centre are at risk of becoming flooded.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued the warning for riverside properties on the River Ouse from Lendal Bridge to Millennium Bridge following days of heavy rainfall.

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At the Viking Recorder measuring station at 10.45am on Saturday (February 14), the River Ouse was 3.23 metres and said to be steady, despite sitting above the normal range of 1.9 metres.

The highest recorded level here was 5.40 metres in November 2000.

A second amber flood alert has also been issued for riverside footpaths and low-lying land in York and to the south as far as Naburn Lock, including Kings Staith, Queens Staith, and South Esplanade.

“Flooding is possible today, Saturday 14th February 2026 and tomorrow, Sunday 15th February 2026. We are closely monitoring the situation, closing floodgates and operating the Foss Barrier. Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water,” said a spokesperson for the Environment Agency.

King’s Staith on Saturday morning (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Whilst river levels have been fluctuating between steady and falling, there is also a Met Office warning for snow and ice for most of North Yorkshire has been extended to 10am tomorrow (February 15) with snowfall currently expected from 4am to 9am.

This warning is not in place over York itself, however surrounding towns such as Tadcaster, Malton, and Pocklington are included within the yellow weather warning.

For advice on what to do if you find yourself caught in a flood, visit the Environment Agency website or contact Floodline via telephone: 0345 988 1188 or via text on 0345 602 6340