Environment Agency
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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 21 November 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 increasing |
| St Johns Lock to Buscot Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Buscot Lock to Grafton Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| 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 | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Pinkhill Lock to Eynsham Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Eynsham Lock to Kings Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Kings Lock to Godstow Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Godstow Lock to Osney Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Osney Lock to Iffley Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
Oxford to Henley
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Iffley Lock to Sandford Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Abingdon Lock to Culham Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Culham Lock to Clifton Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Clifton Lock to Days Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Days Lock to Benson Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Benson Lock to Cleeve Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Cleeve Lock to Goring Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Goring Lock to Whitchurch Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Whitchurch Lock to Mapledurham Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Mapledurham Lock to Caversham Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Upstream of Blakes Lock | Yellow caution: stream decreasing |
| 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 | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Hurley Lock to Temple Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Temple Lock to Marlow Lock | Red caution: strong stream |
| Marlow Lock to Cookham Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Cookham Lock to Boulters Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Boulters Lock to Bray Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Bray Lock to Boveney Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Boveney Lock to Romney Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Old Windsor Lock to Bell Weir Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Bell Weir Lock to Penton Hook Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Penton Hook Lock to Chertsey Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Chertsey Lock to Shepperton Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Shepperton Lock to Sunbury Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Sunbury Lock to Molesey Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
| Molesey Lock to Teddington Lock | Yellow caution: stream increasing |
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.
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