Snowdrops look to be thriving in this winter without snow.
The mass of daffodils that appear over the other side of the River Thames are grouping again. They have not experienced much frost yet – just lots of water.
Floods made nest building and raising young difficult for the swans last spring. But they are having an easier winter of it.
Our Seasons are never predictable.
The Water Level of the River Thames in Abingdon stabilised on the O of Bristol at the Iron Bridge. It was above the O during the last high water in January 2014.
Rob sent me a picture “Looking towards St Helen’s from the Abingdon-Dorchester road“.
The Environment Agency (EA) has been telling us since the “2007 flood” that dredging rivers is not the most cost effective way to prevent flooding. Their resources are limited.
Spike sent this picture of St Helen’s Mill and the River Ock. He says “this flood barrier has achieved very little.”
The blue flood gate is out again at 60 East St Helens Street to keep out the Thames flood water.
The River Thames causes some problems in Abingdon, but our forebears were sensible – building on just one side of the River Thames.
Malcolm send me a picture of where the Ock Bridge goes under the Drayton Road – on Sunday. Here in Abingdon, it seems to be the much smaller River Ock, primarily, and the River Stert that are the main threat to properties. Malcolm says on the Safag website that the whole catchment area of the River Ock needs managing.
We had a lovely sunny day of it today. Flood tourists came to Abingdon to look out across the magnificent sight of so much water.
The water level upstream from Abingdon Lock was almost as high as it has been.
Downstream from the Lock it was quite choppy as the wind sent waves back towards the Lock . Those lock gates are supposed to be renovated between January and March 2014 but there has been no chance of work starting yet.
People were suprised to see a vehicle attempt to drive along the road from Abingdon Lock back to the mainland. But having got some way it reversed back and then turned to return to the lock.
The Abbey Meadow Water Park lives up to its name and warning … “If you are standing in the water play area you will get wet.”
There were lots of sandbags in the B&Q Car Park and the Cattle Market Car Park earlier today, but the supply got used up and I’m not sure there are any more until Monday. For District Council advice see Severe Weather / Flooding.
The Tesco Car Park got flooded earlier today.
The Tesco Road and Car Park remain under water this evening. The River Ock is higher than it has been any time this winter.
A lot of those sand bags have been used to try and protect the Ladygrove Estate and roads bordering the River Ock including Ock Street.
There was a meeting at the end of Chaunterell Way, with the MP, and Leader of the District Council, and Environment Agency this afternoon. Town Council staff helped build barricades of sandbags.
At about 7:30pm, Councillors Alice and Mike Badcock told me that the water level has gone down a little from the peak of that afternoon. But people will probably have a worrying night.
P.S. Thanks to Rudi for the link on the comment to the measuring station. As can be seen the Ock is now going down but the Thames with its larger catchment is still rising.