Are the Severn Bridges Closed Today?

Status at 22:27 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: no closure or restriction reported for the Severn bridges in National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16) and Traffic Wales incidents (updated 22:16). That is not a guarantee it is open: confirm with National Highways before you travel. Planned: 2 closures in the next 48 hours, the first works period Mon 2 Nov 09:30 – Sat 14 Nov 04:00 (M48 eastbound between J2 and J1). Wind forecast: gusts up to 31 mph in the next 48 hours (Tue 12:00), below the 30-knot (35 mph) level where the M48 bridge gets a 40 mph limit.

Page checked 22:27 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026 · National Highways planned closures updated 21:47 · National Highways incidents updated 22:16 · Traffic Wales incidents updated 22:16 · forecast updated 21:32. Times are UK time.

Two motorway bridges cross the Severn between England and Wales: the older M48 Severn Bridge (Aust to Chepstow) and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge further downstream. The Prince of Wales Bridge has wind barriers, so in a storm the M48 bridge shuts first and traffic is sent over the M4.

Official feeds · checked 22:27

Closures and incidents reported now

No closure, restriction or incident reported near the Severn bridges in the feeds below at 22:27. Confirm with National Highways before you travel.

Both bridges are run by National Highways, so its planned-closure and incident feeds cover them; Traffic Wales covers the Welsh approaches. A wind closure is decided on the day and may reach the feeds late, so the National Highways Severn Bridges page comes first.

National Highways · planned works

Planned closures in the next 48 hours

When (UK time)	What
works period Mon 2 Nov 09:30 – Sat 14 Nov 04:00	Lane closure (works period: not every night) M48 eastbound · M48 eastbound between J2 and J1 M48 eastbound Jct 2 to Jct 1 hard shoulder closure 199/9-194/6
works period Mon 2 Nov 09:30 – Sat 7 Nov 04:00	Lane closure (works period: not every night) M48 eastbound · M48 eastbound between J2 and J1 M48 eastbound Jct 2 to Jct 1 hard shoulder closure 199/9-194/6

Open-Meteo forecast · next 48 hours

Wind gust risk, hour by hour

No trigger reached in the next 48 hours. Max gust 31 mph from the NE (Tue 12:00).

22:0004:0010:0016:0022:0004:0010:0016:00

No trigger reachedWatch / first levelRestriction possibleClosure possibleBar height = forecast gust

UK time	Risk	Gust	Wind
Mon 22:00	No trigger reached	18 mph	11 mph NNE
Tue 01:00	No trigger reached	19 mph	12 mph NNE
Tue 04:00	No trigger reached	23 mph	15 mph NNE
Tue 07:00	No trigger reached	23 mph	15 mph NNE
Tue 10:00	No trigger reached	27 mph	17 mph NE
Tue 13:00	No trigger reached	29 mph	18 mph NE
Tue 16:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	16 mph NNE
Tue 19:00	No trigger reached	24 mph	15 mph NNE
Tue 22:00	No trigger reached	27 mph	17 mph NE
Wed 01:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	17 mph NE
Wed 04:00	No trigger reached	25 mph	16 mph NE
Wed 07:00	No trigger reached	25 mph	16 mph NE
Wed 10:00	No trigger reached	24 mph	16 mph NE
Wed 13:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	17 mph ENE
Wed 16:00	No trigger reached	20 mph	13 mph ENE
Wed 19:00	No trigger reached	21 mph	13 mph NE

Every third hour is shown, plus every hour with a flag. Forecast point: 51.609, -2.641 (model ground height 0 m). Gusts are 10 m forecasts for the model grid square; a bridge deck or an exposed summit can see stronger gusts.

Official rules

What triggers a closure or a ban

Trigger	What happens	Source
30 knots (35 mph)	40 mph speed limits on the M48 Severn Bridge.	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02
35 knots (40 mph)	Leeward lanes closed with red X signs.	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02
Gusts above 40 knots (46 mph) expected	M48 Severn Bridge closed to all traffic; traffic diverted on to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02
Wind speeds over 70 knots (80 mph)	Both bridges closed.	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02
High-sided vehicles and motorcycles	National Highways no longer filters them off separately: the M48 bridge closes to everyone instead.	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02
At all times since 27 May 2025	M48 Severn Bridge: weight restriction for heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes (condition of the main cables).	National Highways: The Severn Bridges checked 2026-11-02

This is general information, not legal advice. Operators can change their rules and close a road for other reasons (crashes, ice, works, police instruction) at any time; signs on the road always win.

Usual diversion

When the M48 Severn Bridge closes, traffic is diverted on to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. If both bridges are closed, National Highways' route between England and Wales is the M5, M50, A40 and A449 (via Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth). (source)

Check before you go

Official status pages

Questions

Severn Bridges — FAQ

Are the Severn Bridges Closed Right Now?

Status at 22:27 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: no closure or restriction reported for the Severn bridges in National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16) and Traffic Wales incidents (updated 22:16). That is not a guarantee it is open: confirm with National Highways before you travel. Planned: 2 closures in the next 48 hours, the first works period Mon 2 Nov 09:30 – Sat 14 Nov 04:00 (M48 eastbound between J2 and J1). Wind forecast: gusts up to 31 mph in the next 48 hours (Tue 12:00), below the 30-knot (35 mph) level where the M48 bridge gets a 40 mph limit.

Are both Severn bridges closed?

Rarely. National Highways closes the M48 Severn Bridge when gusts above 40 knots (46 mph) are expected and sends traffic over the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, which has wind barriers. Both bridges close only when winds exceed 70 knots (80 mph).

Is the Severn Bridge closed today?

See the live block at the top of this page: it lists closures on the M48 and the M4 at the bridges from National Highways' feeds, with the time of the check, and the wind forecast for the next 48 hours.

Is the Severn Bridge closed overnight?

Planned overnight works closures are listed above with times when National Highways publishes them. Its Severn Bridges page also lists the bridge closures for the current week.

What is the diversion if both Severn bridges are closed?

National Highways' route between England and Wales is the M5, M50, A40 and A449.

Can lorries use the old Severn Bridge?

Not the heaviest ones: since 27 May 2025 there is a weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge for heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, because of the condition of the main cables. Use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Sources and method. Planned closures: National Highways Road and Lane Closures API (England, refreshed hourly). Live incidents: National Highways, Traffic Wales and Traffic Scotland feeds (every 15 minutes), matched by road number and a small box around each structure. Weather: Open-Meteo forecast API, CC BY 4.0, refreshed hourly. Risk levels apply each operator's published rule to the forecast gust (or our own bands where no rule is published, marked as ours); they are a guide, not an operator decision. A wind closure is often decided within the hour and can reach the feeds late, so always check the operator. Rules checked 2 November 2026.