Upton-on-Severn After the Floods - Saturday 1st March

Flood defences - Upton-on-Severn

We arrived in Upton around midday after our journey from Hampshire. A bright day, with cumulus clouds building during the afternoon, making for striking skyscapes over the Cotswold Hills. While my Munros Man went to the map shop,  I introduced my wellies to Severn, and the mud it had left behind along its banks after the winter flooding. 

We made this trip after what had been the wettest winter in England and Wales since records began in 1766: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2014/early-winter-stats  - my entries in Water and Art during winter 2013 / 2014 about the flooding closer to home go to show this. For much of the time since Christmas, there had been flood warnings from the Environment Agency all along the English stretches of the Severn between Shropshire and Gloucester, along with severe flood warnings throughout the estuary amid the high spring tides and storms at the beginning of January and early February. Just upriver in Worcester in mid-February, the Severn topped its July 2007 high, reaching 5.67m (18ft 7") at Barbourne during the early hours of 13th February. Thankfully the flood defences held here, but the main road bridge in the city centre was closed for about a week, as debris brought down the river with the flood accumulated behind it. There were knock-on road closures and considerable disruption to traffic. 

BBC News - 9th February 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-26107609

Worcester News - In Deep Trouble - 10th February http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/10998463.In_deep_trouble/?ref=rss

BBC News - 13th February - River Severn at Record Level

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-26167360

Flood defences, Upton-on-Severn

The Severn floods every winter (and sometimes summer). I saw this for myself at Bewdley in late December 1994 (before flood defences were built here) and Worcester in February 2004. Usually it all lasts about a fortnight, as rain falling on the Welsh Hills takes several days to flow downriver to the Worcester area, then a few more days for river levels to fall afterwards. What was unusual this time was how long it went on, simply because of all the rain. The jetstream got stuck again, this time in a pattern which brought a succession of storms and rain-bearing weather fronts across central and southern England for about two months. The water didn't have a chance to drop. It's only been during the second half of February that the weather has calmed down and the rain eased off. We wondered, then, what we'd find this weekend. 

During the past fortnight, water levels have fallen considerably, along the Severn and elsewhere, though we found the river here still running high and ominous looking with a strong current. Near the bridge, things still looked a bit messy. Reddish mud coated the  paths all along the river, with woody debris and strandlines where the water had been. A tatty Union Jack was draped forlornly over one of the benches nearer the river, with water still overflowing into pool on the side of it facing the bridge.  As well then, that the flood defences under construction when we stopped here in early January 2012, had now been completed. There was a new flood wall alongside the pubs etc near the bridge, along with the a sturdy wide green floodgate just along the lane to the east. The field at the end of the lane was passable in my wellies and there was no standing water here now, just muddy. After everything I'd heard in the news about the floods, the tranquility of shadows and reflections of the trees somehow seemed all the more pleasing. I admired the view from the field with the two church towers, the Malverns behind before heading back along the river and up the M5 to spend the rest of the afternoon with family.

Youtube - Midlands Storm Chasers - Severn floods Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, Bewdley, Stourport, Friday 31st January
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OF47p-92AE