the floods....

So last week it rained, and rained, and rained......
It was pretty wild outside for a couple of days, and then came the floods.
In York we're always at risk of flooding, and the river Ouse flows past our village. So it was with increasing unease that we watched the river rise, and eventually burst it's banks. Luckily we're not close enough to the river for our house to be at risk, but the road around the village was blocked by flood water, and several homes were looking precarious, with sand bags at the ready....

Further in towards York there was more flooding - Skeldergate was under water, and what is usually a meadow for cows  to graze (and a cycle path for us to get to work) looked more like a huge lake. We even spotted a hovercraft on the Knavesmire racecourse!

Here's a few photos of the flood - it's a serious concern for those with riverside homes, though luckily the flood waters didn't breach the flood defences (maximum river height was 5.06 m above Summer averages, and the flood defences can contain up to 5.5 metres)

The flooding in the village

Definitely no way through this road!

A view of the Minster across the floods

Cycling to work not an option today....

Looking towards the village across the floods

Further into York, and the flood defences hold - just!

It's hard to tell where the river starts and finishes.....