Category Archives: River Thames

River Thames floodplain through Abingdon

Fields are underwater along the River Thames floodplain and appear like a continuous lake. The water level rose through Monday and Tuesday but levelled off today, Wednesday, according to https://riverlevels.uk/thames-abingdon-on-thames-abingdon-lock.River Thames flooding
This is the Abingdon Vale Cricket Ground.
River Thames flooding
This is Rye Farm Meadow.
River Thames flooding
This is the splash pad area in the Abbey Meadow. There was also thin ice.

Nearly back to average water storage levels

Flood water
The river had broken its banks but had not yet flooded the field.
Flood water
At the height of the summer drought, there were a few trickles at Abingdon weir. Now there is a torrent.
Flood waterWhen Thames Water ended the hosepipe ban on 22nd November, after heavy rain in November, they said, ‘We predict that just 60% of normal winter rain will return capacity (that is underground sources, rivers, and reservoirs) to normal by next spring.’

Their December 2022 situation report says ‘Farmoor reservoir capacity continued to increase, and by December month end was 97%. Capacity also increased to 82% in the Lower Thames reservoirs at the end of December, but this is still below the long-term average.’

Frosty Morning



There was a frosty sunrise over the River Thames.

I photographed these two swans flying after a running takeoff.

Hoar frost covered branches of trees, leaves, hedgerows and the grass blades at Caldecott Recreation Ground

These pictures do not show all the cars trying to get to school or to work. I cannot remember seeing a queue so long of vehicles on Caldecott Road waiting to get onto Drayton Road.