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 the Severn Bore 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 2023.
What is the Severn Bore?
The Severn Bore is an impressive tidal wave of water which works its way up the Severn Estuary over a distance of 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 Seven Bore 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 categorized 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 2023?
Severn Bore seekers are in for a good year, with a healthy number of three- and four-star bores forecast for 2023 – as well as the first five-star Severn Bore since September 2019!
SoGlos has only listed four- and five-star bores, drawing upon severn-bore.co.uk’s predictions. These times are approximate and can vary as much as 30 minutes either way.
Four-star Severn Bore in 2023
The Severn Bore on Wednesday 22 February 2023Minsterworth Church at 9.28am; Stonebench at 9.43am; Over Bridge at 10.03am.The Severn Bore on Thursday 23 February 2023
Minsterworth Church at 10.07am; Stonebench at 10.22am; Over Bridge at 10.42am.
The Severn Bore on Wednesday 22 March 2023
Minsterworth Church at 8.26am; Stonebench at 8.41am; Over Bridge at 9.01am.
The Severn Bore on Thursday 23 March 2023
Minsterworth Church at 9.06am; Stonebench at 9.21am; Over Bridge at 9.41am.
The Severn Bore on Friday 1 September 2023
Minsterworth Church at 10.04pm; Stonebench at 10.19pm; Over Bridge at 10.39pm.
The Severn Bore on Saturday 2 September 2023
Minsterworth Church at 10.44pm; Stonebench at 10.59pm; Over Bridge at 11.19pm.
The Severn Bore on Friday 29 September 2023
Minsterworth Church at 9pm; Stonebench at 9.15pm; Over Bridge at 9.35pm.
The Severn Bore on Sunday 1 October 2023
Minsterworth Church at 10.20pm; Stonebench at 10.35pm; Over Bridge at 10.55pm.
Five-star Severn Bore in 2023
The Severn Bore on Saturday 30 September 2023
Minsterworth Church at 9.42pm; Stonebench at 9.57pm; Over Bridge at 10.17pm.
