Flood Alert Issued for Upper River Ouse in North Yorkshire and York

Source: Environment Agency · North Yorkshire and York

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The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Upper River Ouse, warning that rising river levels may lead to flooding in York and North Yorkshire starting March 13.

What this Environment Agency flood warning tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by Environment Agency on March 19, 2026 and geographically references North Yorkshire and York. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Flood Warnings — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly Environment Agency detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized Environment Agency flood warning is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, FloodAlert, Yorkshire) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Upper River Ouse. This alert, designated at severity level 3, indicates that flooding is possible due to rising river levels observed today.

Affected Areas

The alert covers regions within North Yorkshire and York, specifically targeting the Upper River Ouse. Affected watercourses include the River Ouse, Burdyke, Holgate Beck, Blue Beck, River Foss, and The Fleet. Locations most at risk include low-lying land and roads near these rivers, including Queens’ Staith in York city centre.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and recommends staying informed as conditions evolve.

Expected Conditions

Rising river levels are expected to lead to potential flooding of low-lying land and roads. River levels are currently forecast to peak overnight.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 4:01 PM on March 13, 2026. Flooding is considered possible from the afternoon of March 13, 2026, with peak levels expected during the overnight hours. The Environment Agency plans to provide an update by 9:00 PM on March 13, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.

Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗

All Flood Warnings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Environment Agency flood warning.

What is this Environment Agency flood warning about?
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Upper River Ouse, warning that rising river levels may lead to flooding in York and North Yorkshire starting March 13.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Environment Agency. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "medium" severity. Stay informed and follow agency guidance.
What area is affected?
This alert affects North Yorkshire and York. Check with Environment Agency for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Flood Warnings updates?
Browse the full Flood Warnings feed on Areazine at areazine.com/uk/floods/ for the latest updates from Environment Agency and other agencies.