Super blue blood moon appears over the Thames

Staff Writer Weather

A STUNNING supermoon was seen rising over the Thames in London late yesterday afternoon. Rain and clouds which had dominated the morning sky cleared away in time to provide a clear view of the rising moon. According to NASA, it was a “super blood moon” due to the phenomenon whereby the moon appears reddish in colour and particularly large and …

Storm Eleanor forces Thames Barrier closure

Staff Writer Weather

STORM Eleanor forced the Environment Agency to raise the Thames Barrier yesterday to protect London from flooding. High tide levels combined with Eleanor’s surge meant that the iconic flood protection system was required to act – the 180th time it has done so in response to a flood threat since it became operational in 1984. The barrier in south east …

Beautiful sunrise pictured behind the Thames Barrer

Staff Writer News, Weather

A BEAUTIFUL sunrise appeared behind the iconic piers of the Thames Barrier last weekend. On the last day of Greenwich Mean Time before the clocks went forward for the summer, OnTheThames.net photographed the rising sun as seen from the Thames Path on the Greenwich Peninsula. Intense hues of red and yellow filled the sky as the rising sun appeared to …

Gravesend sets record for the hottest day of the year

Staff Writer News, Weather

GRAVESEND in Kent has once again become the hottest place in the country, setting new records in the process. With the mercury hitting 34.4 degrees centigrade (94 degrees fahrenheit) this afternoon according to the Met Office, the town recorded the highest temperature in September since 1911. The Thames side town also seized the title of the hottest place in the …

Gravesend sunset and sunrise

Rob Powell Cruise Ships, Weather

March came to an end and April started last week with a pleasing sunset and sunrise over the Thames at Gravesend. The sun sets on March 31st behind the old West Street station pier at Gravesend. The pier was part of a platform at the old Gravesend West railway station that jutted out on to the river. About 10 hours …

Thames Barrier closes for the first time this winter

Rob Powell News, Weather

LONDON’s flood defence system shifted into action yesterday in response to high river flow levels and a predicted astronomic high tide. The twin threat saw the Thames Barrier begin to shut shortly before midday, remaining closed until about 5pm. It was the first time this winter that the barrier at Charlton has been raised by the Environment Agency. With the …

2016 starts with beautiful Thames sunrise

Rob Powell Bridges, Weather

2016 got off to an impressive start when a dramatic red sky appeared across the capital on Friday morning. With the new year just hours old, early risers and those still on their way home were able to enjoy a beautiful sight over London. Hues of red, orange and yellow were painted across the sky in the thirty minutes or so …

Thames estuary sunrise seen from Allhallows

Rob Powell Weather

It’s been a great week weather-wise, with warm days getting started with lovely sunrises. After the wondrous spectacle seen from Gravesend earlier in the week, which made five national newspapers the following day, I decided to travel out to Allhallows in Kent for uninterrupted views of the rising sun over the Thames estuary. In the minutes before sunrise, a warm …

Beautiful Thames sunrise at Gravesend this morning

Rob Powell Weather

Gravesend in Kent woke up to a beautiful Thames sunrise this morning. A band of orange across spread across the morning sky as the sun rose over the river shortly after 6am. Although the sun disappeared behind thick cloud later in the morning, forecasters say we’re set to have a warm week with the good weather continuing for months to …