LOWER Lydbrook, one of the Forest's most flood-prone areas, took a deep breath as the Wye peaked at the end of last week and once more topped its banks.
Although it meant misery for some – the Courtfield Arms had its cellars flooded and was virtually cut off – the main bulk of flood water pushed on downriver, fortunately unimpeded by high tides.
The same was true for the lower River Severn, where high tides might have created an extremely serious situation despite massive flood prevention work under way in several areas.
But the escape was a lucky one and nobody can count on the major rainfall we have suffered in the last few weeks always coinciding with such good circumstances.
At the time the Review went to press Britain and communities along the Severn and Wye were still keeping an anxious eye on the weather with more heavy rain and gales forecast before the current weather pattern blows through.
And many must be hoping that the dire predictions that we can expect more of the same because of global warming are untrue.