Forum Topic

River Flow

The rivers around here have been very fast flowing this week, the Thames especially both here and around Staines.  The Colne is looking full.  The weir on the Brent at Brentford Dock was very strong today :-

Michael Fletcher ● 6401d7 Comments

"I was around the Thames at Brentford this afternoon 3:00 - 4:00pm and did notice it was quite high but around 1 metre from the banks."Yes, the Barrier did its job well.  It was quite a short closure to block off the top of the tide, and well-judged. I was a bit concerned as Richmond was over 2m higher than expected earlier this afternoon.  The Flood watch status is still in place though.Is the Floodline phone system meant to react to Flood Watches or just Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings?  I suggest you phone them on 0845 988 1188, but they seem to be a bit busy at the moment!

Richard Jennings ● 6393d

I was around the Thames at Brentford this afternoon 3:00 - 4:00pm and did notice it was quite high but around 1 metre from the banks.I was on the Floodline telephone warning system but I haven't received a call.  A year ago I was getting calls quite regularly (when the high tides were being discussed on the forum) but from the banks there looked to be no threat of flooding.  Perhaps Floodline sent a follow-up letter asking people if they still wanted to be registered and I didn't reply.

Michael Fletcher ● 6393d

As of this morning, the Thames between Putney Bridge and Teddington Weir is on Flood Watch.  However, it looks as though the Thames Barrier has been closed, as the water level is nearly a metre lower at Charlton, upstream of the barrier, than at Silvertown downstream.  This is evidently to create more space for the water pouring over Teddington Weir, which has raised the level at Richmond considerably (1.3m higher than normal currently). High tide at Brentford is due at 16:08, but I think that's a bit academic today, as we seem to have a freshwater tide coming downstream!

Richard Jennings ● 6393d

I see from the Environment Agency's site that riverside properties between Teddington Lock and Putney Bridge were given the All Clear at 21:30 yesterday (16 Jan), so that presumably means they were on Flood Watch before then.  Fortunately, the tides are not very high for the next week.This morning there are Flood Warnings for the Thames west of Oxford, and a Flood Watch for the whole of the rest of the non-tidal Thames from Oxford to Teddington, except for Maidenhead-Windsor where there is a flood relief channel (Jubilee River).http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/Thames.html

Richard Jennings ● 6401d

A picture of the Colne on Monday

Michael Fletcher ● 6401d

Thanks for the website Richard - the level is now 4.19metres at Richmond 0.19m above predicted.  1 1/2 hours ago it was 0.93m above predicted.  The river is still fast.  They were saying earlier in the week that boats couldn't make any progress upstream at these kind of speeds and insurance wouldn't cover boats.The weir is now still :- http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r41/Michuel/BrentfordDockWeirThames.jpg

Michael Fletcher ● 6401d

The Thames is currently an amazing 2.3 metres higher than predicted at Richmond.  Looks like they have opened the sluices at Teddington while it's low tide in order to clear water from the upper river.(Cuurent tide heights are at http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/hydrographics/index.cfm )

Richard Jennings ● 6401d