River Thames: current river conditions

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.

Find out current river conditions: updated 2728 January 2023

You can also talk to lock staff to get the latest river conditions and strong stream warnings.

Lechlade to Oxford

Reach	Current conditions
Upstream of St John’s Lock	Caution stream decreasing
St John’s Lock to Buscot Lock	Caution strong stream
Buscot Lock to Grafton Lock	Caution strong stream
Grafton Lock to Radcot Lock	Caution strong stream decreasing
Radcot Lock to Rushey Lock	Caution strong stream
Rushey Lock to Shifford Lock	Caution strong stream
Shifford Lock to Northmoor Lock	Caution strong stream
Northmoor Lock to Pinkhill Lock	Caution strong stream
Pinkhill Lock to Eynsham Lock	Caution strong stream decreasing
Eynsham Lock to King’s Lock	Caution strong stream
King’s Lock to Godstow Lock	Caution strong stream decreasing
Godstow Lock to Osney Lock	Caution strong stream decreasing
Osney Lock to Iffley Lock	Caution strong stream

Oxford to Henley

Reach	Current conditions
Iffley Lock to Sandford Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Abingdon Lock to Culham Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Culham Lock to Clifton Lock	Caution strong stream
Clifton Lock to Day’s Lock	Caution strong stream
Day’s Lock to Benson Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Benson Lock to Cleeve Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Cleeve Lock to Goring Lock	Caution strong stream
Goring Lock to Whitchurch Lock	Caution strong stream
Whitchurch Lock to Mapledurham Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Mapledurham Lock to Caversham Lock	Caution strong stream
Upstream of Blake’s Lock	Caution strong stream
Caversham Lock to Sonning Lock	Caution strong stream
Sonning Lock to Shiplake Lock	Caution strong stream decreasing
Shiplake Lock to Marsh Lock	Caution strong stream
Marsh Lock to Hambleden Lock	Caution strong stream

Henley to Teddington

Reach	Current conditions
Hambleden Lock to Hurley Lock	Caution strong stream
Hurley Lock to Temple Lock	Caution strong stream
Temple Lock to Marlow Lock	Caution strong stream
Marlow Lock to Cookham Lock	Caution strong stream
Cookham Lock to Boulters Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Boulters Lock to Bray Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Bray Lock to Boveney Lock	Caution strong stream
Boveney Lock to Romney Lock	Caution strong stream
Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock	CautionNo strong stream warning
Old Windsor Lock to Bell Weir Lock	CautionNo strong stream warning
Bell Weir Lock to Penton Hook Lock	CautionNo strong stream warning
Penton Hook Lock to Chertsey Lock	Caution strong stream
Chertsey Lock to Shepperton Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Shepperton Lock to Sunbury Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Sunbury Lock to Molesey Lock	Caution stream decreasing
Molesey Lock to Teddington Lock	Caution stream decreasing

Call to hear current river conditions

Alternatively, to get the latest river information before you go boating:

• call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0345 988 1188
• select option 1 for river information for boaters
• when prompted, enter one of the quick dial numbers for the area of the river you want to hear about

Floodline quick dial codes

Quick dial codes	Area	Description
415000	Upstream of St John’s Lock to Radcot Lock	St John’s to Radcot locks, including Buscot and Grafton locks
415001	Rushey to Godstow Lock	Rushey to Godstow locks, including Shifford, Northmoor, Pinkhill, Eynsham and Kings locks
415002	Osney to Iffley Lock	Osney to Iffley locks only
415003	Sandford to Clifton Lock	Sandford to Clifton locks, including Abingdon and Culham locks
415004	Days to Mapledurham Lock	Days to Mapledurham locks, including Benson, Cleeve, Goring and Whitchurch locks
415005	Caversham to Shiplake Lock	Caversham to Shiplake locks, including Sonning Lock
415006	Marsh to Boveney Lock	Marsh to Boveney locks, including Hambleden, Hurley, Temple, Marlow, Cookham, Boulters and Bray locks
415007	Romney to Bell Weir Lock	Romney to Bell Weir locks, including Old Windsor Lock
415008	Penton Hook to Chertsey Lock	Penton Hook to Chertsey locks only
415009	Shepperton to Teddington Lock	Shepperton to Teddington locks, including Sunbury and Molesey locks
415010	River Kennet upstream of Blakes Lock	River Kennet for upstream of Blakes Lock and down to the confluence with the River Thames

Find out about call charges.

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

When these red boards are displayed on lock gates, 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

When these yellow boards are displayed on lock gates, 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

When these yellow boards are displayed on lock gates, 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.

If possible, put extra fendering (such as scaffold poles or strong timber posts) between your boat and the bank side. This may prevent your boat drifting onto the river bank and becoming caught up when levels drop.

Make sure you have a safe exit ashore from your boat. If not, consider returning home or finding alternative accommodation until conditions improve.

If you are not able to vacate your boat safely and are running low on essential supplies or have other safety concerns, treat this as an emergency. Dial 999 to ask for evacuation.

Those in hire boats should stop immediately if you are advised to stop navigating. Contact your hire boat operator and follow their instructions.

Please remember your life is more important than your boat.

The Environment Agency does not provide emergency services. We are not able to carry out search and rescue, or provide supplies to stranded boats.

Contact the Environment Agency

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