The Severn Bore is one of Gloucestershire’s most famous spectacles — and a natural phenomenon, too — with big Severn Bores attracting hundreds of spectators and scores of extreme sport enthusiasts.
Whether you want to watch from the safety of the banks or are feeling brave enough to attempt to surf the Severn Bore, discover exactly what the Severn Bore is, where you can get the best views and when it will be surging up the River Severn in 2025.
What is the Severn Bore?
The Severn Bore is an impressive tidal wave of water which works its way up the Severn Estuary over 25 miles between Awre and Gloucester.
The spectacle is caused by the tide from the Atlantic Ocean entering the Bristol channel and forcing its way up the Severn Estuary, filtering into a narrow channel and causing tides to rise up to 15 metres.
The wave can reach speeds of up to 21kmph and as the width of the River Severn narrows, the wave becomes upheld and produces the world-famous Severn Bore.
How big is the Severn Bore?
The size of the Severn Bore is categorised into different groups, ranging from five stars to one star from largest to smallest.
Large bores with a tidal range of 4.9 to 5 metres are categorized by three stars; very large bores with a tidal range of 5.1 to 5.3 metres are categorized as four stars; while the rarest five-star bores have a tidal range of 5.4 metres and above.
The size of the bore is determined by a number of factors ranging from the time of high tide, wind speed and direction, the amount of water travelling down the river, barometric pressure and how well sourced the main drainage channels are.
Can I surf the Severn Bore?
If you fancy surfing the Severn Bore yourself, the birthplace of river surfing — and joining the likes of Colonel ‘Mad’ Jack Churchill, the very first person to surf the Severn Bore back in 1955 — just remember the water is extremely cold and moves very quickly.
When will the Severn Bore take place in 2025?
Severn Bore seekers might struggle this year, with only a handful of three-star bores and one four-star bore forecast for 2025.
The best chance to surf is Monday 31 March 2025, with this year's only four-star bore surging down the Severn from Newnham at 9.11am to Over Bridge at 10.46am.
These times are approximate and can vary as much as 30 minutes either way.
For three-star bore predictions, check out severn-bore.co.uk/2025_times.
