Environment Agency
Before you take your boat out on the River Thames, you should find out the current river conditions and make sure you understand what they mean. You should also check if there are any closures or restrictions in your area.
Current river conditions: updated 4 October 2024
We update our information about the river conditions and strong stream warnings once a day by 11am. You should also check the warning boards displayed at lock sites or talk to lock staff if you are using your boat on the river.
Lechlade to Oxford
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Upstream of St Johns Lock | Yellow caution: stream decreasing |
| St Johns Lock to Buscot Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Buscot Lock to Grafton Lock | Yellow caution: stream decreasing |
| Grafton Lock to Radcot Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Radcot Lock to Rushey Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Rushey Lock to Shifford Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Shifford Lock to Northmoor Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Northmoor Lock to Pinkhill Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Pinkhill Lock to Eynsham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Eynsham Lock to Kings Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Kings Lock to Godstow Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Godstow Lock to Osney Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Osney Lock to Iffley Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
Oxford to Henley
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Iffley Lock to Sandford Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Abingdon Lock to Culham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Culham Lock to Clifton Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Clifton Lock to Days Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Days Lock to Benson Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Benson Lock to Cleeve Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Cleeve Lock to Goring Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Goring Lock to Whitchurch Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Whitchurch Lock to Mapledurham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Mapledurham Lock to Caversham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Upstream of Blakes Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Caversham Lock to Sonning Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Sonning Lock to Shiplake Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Shiplake Lock to Marsh Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Marsh Lock to Hambleden Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
Henley to Teddington
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Hambleden Lock to Hurley Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Hurley Lock to Temple Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Temple Lock to Marlow Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Marlow Lock to Cookham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Cookham Lock to Boulters Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Boulters Lock to Bray Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Bray Lock to Boveney Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Boveney Lock to Romney Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Old Windsor Lock to Bell Weir Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Bell Weir Lock to Penton Hook Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Penton Hook Lock to Chertsey Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Chertsey Lock to Shepperton Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Shepperton Lock to Sunbury Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Sunbury Lock to Molesey Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Molesey Lock to Teddington Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
What the warnings mean
Any river activity poses a greater risk when there are strong currents, high river levels or cold weather conditions. River flows can increase even during the summer months. Never assume that sunny weather means the conditions are not hazardous.
The Environment Agency may display warning boards at locks to inform river users of the conditions. Read the explanations of what these mean for you. Do not take risks and never underestimate the power of the river.
Strong stream warning
Strong stream warning board
When these red boards are displayed, the Environment Agency advises users of all boats not to navigate. The strong flows make it difficult and dangerous.
People in hire boats arriving at a lock where these boards are displayed should stop immediately. Contact your hire boat operator to ask for instructions.
Stream increasing warning
Stream increasing warning board
When these yellow boards are displayed, the Environment Agency advises:
- users of all unpowered boats not to navigate
- users of powered boats to find a safe mooring
River flows are likely to strengthen, and strong stream boards could be displayed very soon and without further warning.
Stream decreasing warning
Stream decreasing warning board
When these yellow boards are displayed, the Environment Agency advises:
- users of all unpowered boats not to navigate
- users of powered boats to navigate with caution
Using navigation marks
When travelling upstream, keep red navigation buoys to your left and green navigation buoys to your right.
When travelling downstream, keep red buoys to your right and green buoys to your left.
You may pass single yellow marker buoys on either side.
In all cases, keep well clear of navigation buoys. Be aware of possible shoals on the inside of river bends.
Dealing with changing river conditions
If you find yourself in conditions where the Environment Agency advises you to stop navigating, please take the advice and stop. Even the most experienced boater can be caught out, so think about those who could be put in danger if they have to help you.
You may find the following measures helpful. Not all conditions will be serious enough to need all the suggested measures.
Moor your boat in a safe place, preferably in a marina or at a recognised mooring. Limited space may be available at some locks. Moor against high banks if you can.
Ensure your mooring lines are fastened to secure fixings such as bollards, rings or even trees. Put out extra lines for more security and allow enough slack for a further rise in river levels. Do not rely on your own mooring pins or stakes, as they might not hold.
I