Water levels and anxiety levels still rising

Last night I heard a lot of rain on our velux window. During the day the level of the River Ock and the River Thames in Abingdon have risen again.
Water levels
Alongside St Helen’s Wharf a blue door has been in position since Saturday but has only really been needed today where the water has crept up another 3 or 4 inches.

The Ock Valley walk has been closed.
Water levels
Water from the River Ock is lapping against St Helens Mill, which should be well protected given all the work done below and above ground to waterproof it since the last floods.

People are worried though, and on the Ladygrove Estate and Meadowside Estate some residents go out with torches before bedtime to check water levels. There is an anxiety after the 2007 floods that it might happen again.

14 thoughts on “Water levels and anxiety levels still rising

  1. BykerRode

    At 9pm Monday evening the Thames was still maybe 12 inches below the June 2007 highest levels – it needs to reach the centre of the letter O in the word BRISTOL on the downstream side of the Iron bridge.
    I’ll be checking it again in the morning
    The Margaret Brown Gardens have also been sealed off tonight with barriers

    Reply
  2. alexq

    water leVel raised a few centimeter over night. at 6am Tuesday morning it is above the lower end of the blue flood defend gate at st helens wharf

    Reply
  3. Nick

    Latest Information:
    The river and flooding forecast is: The River Thames is very high and continues to rise slowly in the Abingdon area. The river will continue to rise over the next few days. Property flooding can be expected for those properties close to the river. The weather prospects are: Showers are expected throughout today, some isolated and heavy in places. A drier day is expected on Wednesday with some scattered showers.

    06:55 on 27 Nov 2012

    Reply
  4. Chris

    According to BBC News the Thames is also a “slow responding river” which means that the ground water will still cause the river to rise for a few days after the main rainfall has passed.

    Thankfully the rain is supposed to be past us by this afternoon so hopefully the river level will start to drop from Thursday/Friday.

    Reply
  5. BykerRode

    Water level was just lapping at the bottom of the letter O
    at 11am this morning. Water is now coming up from the
    road drains at the junction of Preston Rd and Wilsham Rd
    and starting to flood the road.
    At least the rain stopped just in time for the troops Homecoming Parade

    Reply
  6. BykerRode

    3pm and the Thames is still rising.
    Just hitting the 2007 peak level
    Be aware of the flooded road at junction or Preston and Wilsham

    Reply
  7. KerryC

    Thank you User-Less for that (and BykerRode for your updates.) I didn’t realise that was on the EA website. There is a marker stick on the Ock by Meadowside and you can see from there the water level has dropped today. Here’s hoping everything keeps moving in the right direction and very best of luck to all. Mass fingers crossed for everyone.

    Reply
  8. rudi

    seems the situation is reversed from last time- ock falling but thames rising.
    fingers crossed that the thames doesn’t rise at it’s current rate for the next few days – we’ve got the rain out of the way, now it’s just a waiting game

    Reply
  9. Neil Fawcett

    I think the removal of the pinch point by St Helen’s Mill has helped. In 2007 the water level was significantly higher behind it but today the water has been flowing smoothly.

    The Ock appears to have been fairly level this afternoon after overnight and this morning.

    Reply
  10. BykerRode

    Not looking good – The Anchor was closed tonight
    Water now lapping over the footpath on the Wharf
    Deep water at junction of Preston and Wilsham
    – car drivers racing through it !
    Water along both sides of the road in Townsend.
    Lets hope the river is peaking otherwise it would be
    a good idea to sandbag the grass bank along Wilsham road.

    Reply
  11. John E

    If we have normal Winter rain this season we could be in trouble as the ground is already saturated. it’s being so cheerful as keeps me going..!

    Reply

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