Easter 1998 Floods

Prior to Easter 1998, the 1947 floods were the reference events for flood‐risk management in many catchments throughout England and Wales. However, Easter flood levels were generally higher than those of 1947 in the river systems draining an area of about 5000 km 2 , bounded by Bedford in the east, Evesham in the west, Peterborough in the north, and Oxford in the south. The paper describes the background to the floods and the independent review, and outlines the lessons which emerged from the Easter 1998 flood experiences, particularly in relation to flood‐plain management, hydrometry and flood forecasting and warning.