River Thames: current river conditions
The current conditions affecting boaters on the River Thames and what the warnings mean.
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 147 FebruaryMarch 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 | No stream warning |
| St John’s Lock to Buscot Lock | No stream warning |
| Buscot Lock to Grafton Lock | No stream warning |
| Grafton Lock to Radcot Lock | No stream warning |
| Radcot Lock to Rushey Lock | No stream warning |
| Rushey Lock to Shifford Lock | No stream warning |
| Shifford Lock to Northmoor Lock | No stream warning |
| Northmoor Lock to Pinkhill Lock | No stream warning |
| Pinkhill Lock to Eynsham Lock | No stream warning |
| Eynsham Lock to King’s Lock | No stream warning |
| King’s Lock to Godstow Lock | No stream warning |
| Godstow Lock to Osney Lock | No stream warning |
| Osney Lock to Iffley Lock | No stream warning |
Oxford to Henley
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Iffley Lock to Sandford Lock | No stream warning |
| Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock | No stream warning |
| Abingdon Lock to Culham Lock | No stream warning |
| Culham Lock to Clifton Lock | No stream warning |
| Clifton Lock to Day’s Lock | No stream warning |
| Day’s Lock to Benson Lock | No stream warning |
| Benson Lock to Cleeve Lock | No stream warning |
| Cleeve Lock to Goring Lock | No stream warning |
| Goring Lock to Whitchurch Lock | No stream warning |
| Whitchurch Lock to Mapledurham Lock | No stream warning |
| Mapledurham Lock to Caversham Lock | |
| Upstream of Blake’s Lock | |
| Caversham Lock to Sonning Lock | No stream warning |
| Sonning Lock to Shiplake Lock | |
| Shiplake Lock to Marsh Lock | No stream warning |
| Marsh Lock to Hambleden Lock | No stream warning |
Henley to Teddington
| Reach | Current conditions |
|---|---|
| Hambleden Lock to Hurley Lock | No stream warning |
| Hurley Lock to Temple Lock | No stream warning |
| Temple Lock to Marlow Lock | No stream warning |
| Marlow Lock to Cookham Lock | No stream warning |
| Cookham Lock to Boulters Lock | No stream warning |
| Boulters Lock to Bray Lock | No stream warning |
| Bray Lock to Boveney Lock | No stream warning |
| Boveney Lock to Romney Lock | No stream warning |
| Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock | No stream warning |
| Old Windsor Lock to Bell Weir Lock | No stream warning |
| Bell Weir Lock to Penton Hook Lock | No stream warning |
| Penton Hook Lock to Chertsey Lock | No stream warning |
| Chertsey Lock to Shepperton Lock | No stream warning |
| Shepperton Lock to Sunbury Lock | No stream warning |
| Sunbury Lock to Molesey Lock | No stream warning |
| Molesey Lock to Teddington Lock | No stream warning |
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 |
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 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
Stream increasing warning board
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
Stream decreasing warning board
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
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Environment incident hotline
Telephone (24 hour service) 0800 80 70 60
Floodline
Telephone (24 hour service) 0345 988 1188
Type talk (for the hard of hearing) 0345 602 6340
Last updated
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River Thames current conditions updated for Tuesday 7 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames river conditions updated Monday 6 March. Changes to the following reaches Caversham, Blakes and Shiplake.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 5 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames conditions updated for Saturday 4 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Friday 3 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Thursday 2 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Wednesday 1 March 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Tuesday 28 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Monday 27 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 26 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Saturday 25 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Friday 24 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Thursday 23 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Wednesday 22 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Tuesday 21 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Monday 20 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 19 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Saturday 18 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Friday 17 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Thursday 16 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Wednesday 15 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Tuesday 14 February 2023. No stream warnings at any locks except Caversham, Blakes and Shiplake locks which are still on Yellow caution: stream decreasing.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Monday 13 February 2023. Godstow to Osney Lock changed to no stream warning.
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River Thames: 2nd update for 12 February 2023. Changes to the following reaches, Radcot, Rushey, Shifford, Northmoor, Pinkhill, Eynsham, Kings and Godstow
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 12 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Saturday 11 February 2023. No stream changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Friday 10 February 2023. No stream changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Thursday 9 February 2023. No stream changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Wednesday 8 February 2023. Changes to following reaches - Sandford, Abingdon, Culham and Clifton.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Tuesday 7 February 2023. One stream change – Godstow lock to Osney lock now on Caution stream decreasing.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Monday 6 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 5 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Saturday 4 February 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Friday 3 February 2023. Changes to following reaches - Iffley, Sonning, Marlow and Sunbury
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Thursday 2 February 2023. Changes to the following reaches - Grafton, Northmoor, Pinkhill, Eynsham, King's, Osney, Iffley, Clifton, Day's, Benson, Cleeve, Goring, Whitchurch, Mapledurham, Blake's, Sonning, Penton Hook, Boveney, Chertsey, Shepperton, Molesey and Teddington.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Wednesday 1 February 2023. Change to Penton Hook reach.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Wednesday 1 February 2023. Changes to following reaches - Buscot, Radcot, Rushey and Shifford.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Tuesday 31 January 2023. Changes to following reaches - Buscot, Radcot, Rushey, Shifford, Pinkhill, Eynsham, Osney, Clifton, Day's, Caversham, Blake's, Marlow, Romney.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Monday 30 January 2023. Changes to following reaches - Marsh, Hambleden, Hurley, Temple, Marlow and Cookham.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 29 January 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Saturday 28 January 2023. The following reaches changed to Caution stream decreasing - Grafton, Pinkhill, King’s, Godstow and Sonning, Romney, Old Windsor and Bell Weir reaches now have no stream warning.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Friday 27 January 2023. Changes to Benson and Mapledurham reach.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Thursday 26 January 2023. Changes to the following reaches: Sandford, Abingdon, Culham, Cleeve, Bray, Shepperton and Sunbury.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Wednesday 25 January 2023. Changes to Boulters reach and Molesey reach.
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River Thames: current conditions updated for Tuesday 24 January 2023. Two changes; St John's reach and Teddington reach Caution Stream Decreasing.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Monday 23 January 2023. Upstream of Blake's Lock now Caution strong stream
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River Thames current conditions updated for Sunday 22 January 2023. Blakes Lock now Caution stream decreasing.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Friday 20 January 2023. No stream warning changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Friday 20 January 2023. No changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Thursday 19 January 2023. No changes.
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River Thames current conditions updated for Wednesday 18 January 2023. No changes.
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Tuesday 17 January 2023.
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Updated for 16 January 2022
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Sunday 15 January 2023
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Saturday 14 January 2023
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River Thames: current river conditions updated for Friday 13 January 2023
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River Thames current river conditions updated for Thursday 12 January 2023.
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Added a section on using navigation marks.
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Added contact details for the Environment Agency.
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First published.