Is the Thames always this low when tide is out?

[TC3]

Went down to London with the wifey to do some "bag" shopping and had my camera just in case i saw anything different. I have never seen the tide so low and it is the first time i have walked along the bank and it was pretty cool :) Bit of a dull cloudy day hence the drab looking colours. Is it common for the tide to be so low there?

http://tc3.smugmug.com/Day-outings/Walk-along-the-Thames-160111/IMG1404/1158688907_B5LM9-M.jpg

http://tc3.smugmug.com/Day-outings/Walk-along-the-Thames-160111/IMG1418/1158693125_wmpG6-M.jpg

http://tc3.smugmug.com/Day-outings/Walk-along-the-Thames-160111/IMG1423/1158694886_Ypira-M.jpg

http://tc3.smugmug.com/Day-outings/Walk-along-the-Thames-160111/IMG1430/1158697732_Vchq4-M.jpg

http://tc3.smugmug.com/Day-outings/Walk-along-the-Thames-160111/IMG1434/1158699661_CYMAD-M.jpg

[Biker Biggles]

It gets that low when the Lord Mayor forgets to put the plug back in.

[TC3]

It gets that low when the Lord Mayor forgets to put the plug back in.

I knew there was a logical explanation ;)

[Stephen McG]

when the moon and sun are in line, you get the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.
I seem to remember a bit recently about a partial eclipse (moon and sun in line)
co-incidence??

SMcG

[Ed]

Wow that's low.

It's all flowed to the Severn, which after all the heavy rain in mid Wales over the last week has burst its banks at Montford Bridge - the AR06 campsite is flooded.

[punyXpress]

As S McG says - it's almost full spring tide so dig out your waders.

[TC3]

Te moon and sun lining up makes sense seeing as there is flooding in some places and not enough water in others.... unless it is the plug thing of course :)

[keith_d]

We are a few days off neap tides at the moment so the tidal range is fairly small.

The Spring tides are on the 23rd with a difference of 7.4 meters at London Bridge. So if you're interested in seeing the bed of the Thames you want to be there around 10am on Sunday.

Keith.

[Reeder]

I heard that the thames has one of the biggest tidal differences in the world.
Or am I just making that up?

[SIII]

Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world with ranges in excess of 15 metres, just above Avonmouth and the largest in the world is 17 metres (55.8 feet) at Burntcoat Head for the Bay of Fundy, Canada.

Is it at Bristol that the Kayak's and surfers ride the wave up as the tide comes in?

[Reeder]

I lied then :)

[Luckypants]

Thames has a relatively large tidal range, but does not make it into this top twenty compiled by NOAA http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/faq2.html#26

The Bristol Channel has very large tidal range and has the second to third largest tidal range in the World.