Fierce rainfalls and severe flooding swept through Oxfordshire starting Sunday evening and continued unrelentingly through Monday and into Tuesday. Despite brief dry spells on Monday afternoon, torrential rains resumed later that evening, leaving no real respite on Tuesday. Flooding affected various parts of the county, disrupting infrastructure and daily life.
The Aftermath of the Downpours
Train tracks were submerged following the heavy rain, causing significant disruptions to several critical routes. A spokesperson for Chiltern Railways, one of the affected companies, apologised to commuters, stating, “We apologise for the continued disruption to customers’ journeys today due to severe weather causing flooding across the railway.”
Chiltern Railways provided striking images of the downpour’s aftermath, showcasing submerged railway tracks at several stations. Locations such as Haddenham and Thame Station had their rails completely underwater, while surrounding flooded fields brought delays to the line between Banbury and Bicester.
In addition to train disruptions, road closures were extensive throughout Oxfordshire. Several roads near the M40 services close to Wheatley were rendered impassable due to flooding. Begbroke and Woodstock also saw multiple road closures, which severely impacted bus services, including those operated by Stagecoach.
Effects on Local Residents and Infrastructure
The Environmental Agency issued nine flood warnings, with areas such as Bicester, Chalgrove, and Wendlebury experiencing some of the worst conditions. Residents in these locations were advised that flooding of property was imminent and to brace for extended periods of bad weather.
In the Marston area, blocked drains exacerbated road flooding, particularly along the busy Oxford Road. Infrastructure wasn’t the only casualty—local education was disrupted as well. Five schools across Oxfordshire were forced to close on Tuesday, with four of those closures directly linked to flood damage. Affected institutions included Wheatley Park School, St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Kidlington, Greyfriars Catholic School in Oxford, and St James Church of England Primary School in Hanney. Cheney School, which reopened the same day, still had to shut early, dismissing students at 1:30 PM in advance of an evening event.
Historic Rainfall
This was no ordinary storm. The record-breaking severity of the rainfall set a new historical precedent. According to data from the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Meteorological Station, Oxfordshire experienced its highest 24-hour rainfall total in 56 years. Between 9 AM on Sunday, September 22, and 9 AM on Monday, September 23, a staggering 77.1mm of rainfall was recorded. This ranks as the fourth-highest single-day precipitation total ever recorded in Oxford, and the highest since July 1968.
The community continues to rally as it deals with the fallout from this extreme weather event. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for further changes. For those seeking local assistance, visit the Wantage business directory to explore available support and services or submit your own listing for free to connect with the local community. You can also contribute local events here.
