You're going to have to find somewhere else to watch the Boat Race! Huge spring tides flood south bank of the Thames leaving cars and people stranded
- Easter weekend will be dry and chilly across most of the UK, forecasters say
- River banks flooded between Barnes and Putney Pier ahead of Boat Race
- Amber warnings in place from Environment Agency for floods along Thames
By EMILY DAVIES
Spectators hoping to watch the Easter Sunday Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge might be wise to bring their wellies after the Thames burst its banks.
The towpath along the Putney embankment, which is usually a popular vantage point for those hoping to watch the race, was yesterday flooded with water.
Streets along the riverside were affected by high tides and members of the public were left stranded after the river overflowed between Barnes and Putney Pier.
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The Thames burst its banks between Barnes and Putney Pier ahead of the Easter Sunday Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Spectators will have to take a paddle if they want to watch the Boat Race from this stretch of the river Thames
Members of the public were left stranded on railings after the Thames burst its banks and flooded streets alongside
Pub gardens were under water and cars parked along the banks were submerged by the higher water levels along the stretch of river in south west London.
The Environment Agency has released an amber flood alert warning that floods are possible between Putney Embankment and Teddington Lock.
Flooding is also possible in the south east of the city near Trowlock Island, according to an Environment Agency amber warning.
The high water levels are caused by spring tides, which are especially strong tides occurring when the moon is full or new and aligned with the Earth and the sun.
Spring tides are not affected by the season of Spring but by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun combined.
No floods caused by rain are expected over Easter, with the Met Office predicting the weather to be mostly dry, but with chilly conditions set to last over the bank holiday weekend.
Forecasters have predicted dry and sunny weather with cool temperatures over the Easter weekend
Spring tides and melting snow have caused flooding of the Thames between Barnes and Putney Pier
The wheels of parked cars along the riverside were submerged in water after the Thames burst its banks in south west London
Water levels were much higher than usual in Putney and the path along the riverside became impassable on foot
Temperatures dropped to -11C in the Scottish highlands last night and the cold weather will continue to be colder than normal for spring.
Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: 'It's looking dry across the whole of the UK on Easter Sunday with sunny spells.
'There will be a few light wintry showers in the south east of the country in places such as Kent, with temperatures ranging between 5C and 7C.
'For the University Boat Race there will be a dry cold start to the day, with isolated wintry showers in the afternoon.
A pub garden in south west London was left underwater ahead of Sunday's Oxford Cambridge Boat Race
The river burst its banks and cars parked in the streets adjacent had their wheels submerged in water
'We can expect lighter winds through tomorrow. It won't feel too cold but will still be below average for this time of year.'
The floods along the Thames are likely to affect those hoping to watch the Easter Sunday Boat Race if the high water levels continue.
Tomorrow's clash between the Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams will see the two elite universities go head to head in the 159th University Boat Race.
As Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams prepared for Sunday's race the Cambridge team's car became submerged on the river bank
The cars of the Cambridge team were left under water as they trained for the Easter Sunday Boat Race on the Thames
The Cambridge crew parked up on the river bank but their cars were left soggy when the Thames reached high tide
Every year crowds line the four-and-a-quarter mile course from Putney to Mortlake to support the two teams in a race which tends to last just over 15 minutes.
Earlier this week the Cambridge team were caught out by the Thames tides after their vehicles parked up nearby were submerged in water from the flooding river.
Both teams have had to take care to avoid large pieces of debris coming down the river in high tides as they prepared for Sunday's contest.
University Boat Race spokesperson Maria O'Connor said: 'As the race is just over four miles long that gives the crowds eight miles of riverside to watch from.
'So while there are areas that may flood, other parts of the stretch will be fine to watch from.
'As high tide is just after 6pm and the race starts at 4.30pm so the race doesn't take place when the tide is at its highest.'
Last year's Boat Race was interrupted when 36-year-old anti-elitist protester Trenton Oldfield swam in front of the rowers. He was handed a six-month prison sentence.
The Oxford crew departed from the slipway as they went out on a training outing on the River Thames today
Malcolm Howard of Oxford throws his wellies to the shore as they prepare for the 159th University Boat Race
Since the University Boat Race began in 1829, the Oxford rowing team have won 76 races to Cambridge¿s 81
The two teams will go head to head on Easter Sunday in the Boat Race from Putney to Mortlake
Last year's race was interrupted when anti-elitist protester 36-year-old Trent Oldfield swam in front of the rowers
It might not just be the rowers getting their feet wet at tomorrow's race if the tides are as high as they were yesterday
