A Flood Alert was issued for River Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon, and also the Letcombe Brook at Wantage, Grove and East Hanney in Oxfordshire between 25th February 2026 and 13th March 2026. Affected watercourses included the River Ock, Letcombe Brook.
During this event, FloodRadar monitoring gauges recorded notable rises. The River Ock at Charney Bassett rose 5.96m, peaking at 2.02m, while the River Thames at Shifford Lock climbed 3.33m.
Environment Agency advice issued
High river levels may lead to flooding. River levels are high on the Mill Brook. Flooding of low lying land and roads remains possible today, 13 March 2026, especially in the areas around Wantage. The forecast is for a windy day with showers, some of which could be heavy. Saturday is forecast to be mostly dry with a chance of showers. River levels are high but stable. We expect levels to fall very gradually over the coming days. Levels along most of the River Ock are below the flood risk threshold. River levels remain sensitive to further rainfall. We are monitoring rainfall and river levels.
Monitoring gauges during this event
| Station | River | Rise | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charney Bassett | River Ock | +5.96m | 2.02m |
| Shifford Lock | River Thames | +3.33m | 3.81m |
| Northmoor Lock | River Thames | +2.93m | 3.42m |
| Abingdon | River Ock | +0.49m | 0.41m |
| Newbridge GS | River Windrush | +0.23m | 4.08m |
| Wantage | Letcombe Brook | +0.11m | 0.87m |
| Steventon | Ginge Brook | +0.07m | 1.02m |
| Stanford Vale | River Ock | +0.06m | 0.22m |