Alan - Flood Forecaster at the Thames Barrier

⚠️ We've issued a Flood Alert for the tidal Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington for the high tide early tomorrow morning.

We're keeping an eye on some grim looking weather for the end of the week, which coincides with spring tides.

A #ThamesBarrier closure is not expected at this time, but we may need to issue Flood Alerts for the tidal Thames upstream of Putney.

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#OnThisDay in 1984, Her Majesty the Queen formally opened London's 520m flood defence across the #Thames, although it had been operational for a couple of years previously.

It has now protected #London from tidal flooding on 221 occasions.

One on, one out.

With the likelihood of an unplanned #ThamesBarrier closure lower in the summer months, traffic on the #Thames gets a little bigger.

Purus Chinook heading to central #London for naming ceremony.

Singapore Navy frigate RSS Formidable leaving after a few days at West India Dock.

It's cruise ship season at the #ThamesBarrier.

@LindbladExp National Geographic Endurance passes outbound following a first visit to #London. Purpose-built for polar navigation, hence the unusual bow.

Thames Barrier didn't close today. The incoming tide was fast today due to the swing from a low, low tide to a high, high tide owing to a low in the north sea.

Six gates have been closed at the #ThamesBarrier to assist with a possible full flood defence closure on Sunday.

Tides upstream of Putney will be high from tomorrow afternoon. Expect the Flood Alert to be issued in the morning.

We had high flows at the time (and April). Typical spring tides in the estuary looking at the Southend levels.

⚠️ High tides expected on the #Thames this weekend.

We're making plans (nothing confirmed) for a #ThamesBarrier closure on Sunday, so some gates will move to the closed position today.

Thankfully the recent dry spell has lowered the flow back to normal for the time of year.

Thames Barrier shot from a boat yesterday. Sunny but bloody cold.

Tidal barrier used 26 times so far in 2024 - but mostly not to stop tidal floods The barrier has been used to help the River Hull drain following excessive rainfall

Nice little article from last year, about how the barrier on the River Hull in north east England helps deal with river flooding as well as the tide. The tidal range is ~7m (22ft) in this area so the river draining gets slowed a lot by high tide. 🌊 www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-ea...

⚠️ I've updated the Flood Alert for the tidal #Thames from #Putney to #Teddington for a high tide this afternoon. May be slightly higher than yesterday.

Expecting high tides each afternoon for the next few days.

Thanks for reminder - I've reported in the past and have just updated with this.

Think I'm right - no white spots.

Seemed to be hanging around, but not here now. Noses pointing upstream so perhaps gone that way.

You’ll have to trust me with this as it’s a terrible picture, but at least a couple of harbour porpoises are currently swimming upstream of the #ThamesBarrier.

First time I’ve seen them here.

⚠️ Flow from the fluvial River Thames has risen rapidly today, and is forecast to rise further over the next 48 hours.

Although we’re now in neap tides, the low pressure system that brought the snow/rain is also forecast to generate a small surge over next few days.

Busy shift in store tomorrow.

⚠️ High tide this afternoon upriver of the #ThamesBarrier. Flood Alerts in force.

⚠️ Our first Flood Alert of the year has been issued by my colleague with high tides forecast overnight and early tomorrow afternoon

Northerly wind will add a little to the astronomical tides for the rest of the week

No property flooding expected hence no #ThamesBarrier closure

In the #ThamesBarrier Control Room for the #NewYearEve 2024 Night Shift.

Small improvement in the forecast for the end of the week so the surge isn’t quite as big as I was looking at this time last night.

Settling in for the first of two night shifts to end 2024.

⚠️ Potential for large storm surge on Wednesday evening into Thursday worth keeping an eye on. #ThamesBarrier ready for action if required.

A very strange tide this morning due to surge activity meant that recorded high water’s at Southend and Richmond were almost at the same time

Normally more than two hours apart

There was 1.3m surge on the flood tide that eased near to high water’s, creating an unusual profile

More Canary Wharf for #SundayPixCity, this time from the Woolwich side of the Thames Barrier.

#StormDarragh incoming.

Fortunately we’re in neap tides so no significant impacts for the tidal #Thames and despite some storm surge, no #ThamesBarrier closures or Flood Alerts expected.

High pressure for next week should settle things down again.

Yes, had it coincided with high spring tides, such as those two or six weeks ago, we could have been very busy right now.

Yes - original life expectancy was around 2030, but now with ongoing maintenance and improvements we believe we're good until around 2070.

Climate change science in the 1960's and 70's was very much an unknown with not a lot of evidence to back it up. That's obviously changed with technology.

Hi, There has, and this was always expected.

When the Barrier was designed they considered sea level rise to be 8-10mm per year. We're actually seeing 3-4mm per year.

Closures per year are increasing, although not as quickly as originally planned.

See www.gov.uk/guidance/the...

Night shift 3 of 4 at the #ThamesBarrier.

Flow at Teddington now just under 300 cumecs, with a peak of around 340 metres expected early on Friday morning.

Tides are low thankfully.

Still a busy looking map of Alerts and Warnings in force.

check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk?v=map-live&l...

We’re not expecting any immediate impacts from #StormBert over the weekend, but I’ll be monitoring how quickly the river flow rises next week with more rain by the end of next week when I switch to night shifts from Monday.

I said there could be a change in the forecast... And there has been. Quite a big change too.

The #ThamesBarrier will not be operating today and Flood Alerts will be updated this morning.