Skip to content

Storm Gerrit: Flood and heavy rain warnings for Yorkshire

WYFRS Car submerged in waterWYFRS
Fire crews rescued a man from the car after it became trapped in flood waters in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, on Wednesday, the fire service said

A flood warning has been issued in East Yorkshire as continued heavy rain was forecast across the wider region.

The Environment Agency (EA) said the warning, which applied to the Upper River Hull catchment, was due to recent rain and high groundwater levels.

A number of lower level flood alerts were also issued in West and North Yorkshire.

Flooding shut the northbound A1 in North Yorkshire between junction 52 Catterick and 53 Scotch Corner.

A Met Office yellow warning for rain, due to Storm Gerrit, remains in force until 18:00 GMT on Wednesday.

It is one of several warnings for wind and rain in force across the UK due to the storm and drivers have been warned of potentially hazardous conditions.

The Met Office said outbreaks of rain would move northeastwards across northern England throughout the day.

Across the warning area 20-30mm of rain is expected.

The weather brought disruption to the rails with lines between Carlisle, in Cumbria, and Lockerbie, in Scotland, blocked on Wednesday morning due to flooding.

Trains running from Newcastle and Berwick heading towards Edinburgh were also disrupted.

Weather Watchers/whethertheweatherbefine Wind and rain at Sandsend in North YorkshireWeather Watchers/whethertheweatherbefine
A warning for heavy rain remains in force, the Met Office said, with seas, such as this in Sandsend, North Yorkshire, likely

The EA has issued only one flood warning in Yorkshire, which applies to the River Hull and its tributaries at Frodingham, Hempholme, Wilfholme and Bursill.

The agency said it expected levels to rise further and was "operating pumps in the area" and would continue to monitor the situation.

Elsewhere flood alerts were published for the Upper River Hull catchments and for the Aire, Derwent, Nidd, Swale, Ure, Wharfe and Calder.

Nationally, five flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, were in place with more than 100 flood alerts, which mean flooding is possible, also announced.

WeatherWatchers/Gary Gimmick Wet day in YorkWeatherWatchers/Gary Gimmick
York experienced a wet, rather than white, Christmas

People have been advised by the agency to avoid "low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses".

It has also reminded people to not attempt to walk or drive through floodwater.

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]