Severn Bore returns for last time in 2020
THE surfboards and canoes were out in force in Gloucestershire yesterday for the last major Severn Bore of the year.
Bore-watchers were out early to catch a glimpse of the incredible sight at the River Severn.
There were even surfers and paddleboarders braving the chilly October weather to catch the last rapids.
One of Britain’s few natural phenomena, the Severn Bore starts from the estuary of the River Severn, where the tidal range is the second highest in the world, reaching heights of 50 feet.
The shape of the estuary is such that the water is funnelled into an increasingly narrow channel as the tide rises, thus forming the large wave.
The surging water forces its way past Avonmouth, where it is approximately five miles wide, then Beachley and Aust, Lydney and Sharpness, where it is approximately one mile wide.
Soon, it is down to a width of a few hundred yards.
By the time the bore reaches Minsterworth, it is less than a hundred yards across, maintaining this width all the way to Gloucester.
Surfers and watersport fans braved the current and tried to keep afloat.
There are about 260 bores each year, occurring twice a day on 130 days. Because the bores are associated with the phases of the moon, one occurs between 7am and noon on bore days, and the other between 7pm and midnight GMT, with the largest bores occurring between 9 o’clock and 11 o’clock in both the morning and evening.
The height of the bores can also be impacted by strong winds from the south west and west and can be delayed by strong winds from the east or north.
While the bore is popular for watersport fans, it carries a health warning because the current can be dangerous to those not used to its strength. Gloucester Harbour Trustees issues safety advice to those braving it.
Hazards in high water conditions can include floating trees, collapsing portions of river bank, overhanging branches and even dead farm animals.