Flooding at Bear Mead 01 May 2012.

A description of the high flood on 01 May 2012 at Bear Mead.

After no rain for 30 days, and 2 dry winters with no flood since November 2009, the weather suddenly changed in mid-April to produce the "wettest April on record". There were 3 floods close together, on 27 Apr, 01 May and 02 May. The Mayday Flood was the highest, at R=376 at 1400 hrs. The Author managed to get down to the River Stour in waders, and collected these photos.
filename(timeBST) Taken by

05 Mar 2012 - 02 Apr 2012

03 Apr 2012 - 1 May 2012
123456789012345678901234567890123 FLOOD-12 -13

02 May 2012 - 30 May 2012
-14

3135(1309). The Stour burst its banks....

3133s(1306). ...The depth was 376 (taken 1 hour before peak).

3128(1245). The water reached 700 yards to the A31 gate...

3116. ...and covered surrounding fields.

3129(1255). The bridleway looked like a canal...

3130(1258). ...and water flowed into the Plantation.

3131(1259). The Plank bridge over the ditch vanished...

3136(1317). ...and the seat in the hedge vanished too.

3137(1321). The Mill Stream was full...

3141(1409). ...and the end of the bridleway was full.

3138(1323). The Pendulum was at 45°...

3139(1327). ...and the Willow Wood became an island again.

3132(1303). Field #1 was flooded except for the NE corner...

3132v(1303). ...but the hut was still high and dry.

Updated 04 Jun 2012