FloodRadar
Log inCreate free account
FloodRadar
Log inCreate free account
Does Folkestone flood? 116 postcodes in Folkestone are in the Environment Agency's rivers-and-sea flood-risk data (55 High, 38 Medium likelihood) — the breakdown is further down this page.
No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.
Updated 2026-10-09 13:00:10 UTC · Official GOV.UK warnings · Flood preparation & help guide
Folkestone is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal resort for most of the 19th and mid-20th centuries.
Ordnance Survey places 116 postcodes in Folkestone in the Environment Agency's rivers-and-sea flood-risk dataset (Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea). Each postcode is counted once, under the worst band any of its properties reaches; together they hold 1,657 properties in the EA dataset's likelihood bands.
| EA likelihood band | Postcodes (worst band) | Properties in the EA dataset | of which homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 55 | 449 | 365 |
| Medium | 38 | 605 | 469 |
| Low | 17 | 447 | 312 |
| Very low | 6 | 156 | 144 |
| All bands | 116 | 1,657 | 1,290 |
This dataset covers flooding from rivers and the sea only — one of five flood sources. Surface water, groundwater, sewers and reservoirs are assessed separately, so a postcode missing from it is not proof that a place cannot flood. The band describes the land around properties (allowing for defences), not any single address and not today's conditions.
…and 16 more at-risk postcodes, listed on the district pages below.
Flood-risk bands: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2025. All rights reserved. Some features of this map are based on digital spatial data from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, © NERC (CEH). © Crown Copyright and Database Rights 2025 OS AC0000807064. This product is produced in part from PAF® and Multiple Residence Data, the copyright in which is owned by Royal Mail Group Limited and/or Royal Mail Group plc. All rights reserved. Licence number AC0000807064.
Place names: Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2026. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The nearest watercourse on the river map is Pent Stream, about 10 m from the middle of Folkestone's gauges. It flows on to the sea.
A gauge downstream shows water that has already passed this point; one upstream sees it first. Distances along the river are from the point on Pent Stream nearest the middle of Folkestone's gauges. From Ordnance Survey’s river map (OS Open Rivers), which leaves out small streams, ditches and culverts, so a nearer one may exist. This describes where water goes on the map; it says nothing about flooding at any address. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2026.
Folkestone is monitored by 1 Environment Agency river level station on the Pent Stream, in Kent. Water levels are updated every 15 minutes, providing real-time flood monitoring for the area.
The Pent Stream is monitored by 1 station (Black Bull Road). Each station records water levels continuously, with data synced to FloodRadar every 5 minutes.
There are 3 Environment Agency flood warning areas within 10km of Folkestone. When the EA issues a flood warning for any of these areas, it will appear on this page. These include: Areas at risk of flooding from the Pent Stream between Folkestone Fire Station and the viaduct including Pavilion Road, Black Bull Road and Bradstone Avenue; Pent Stream area from Cheriton to Folkestone Harbour; Upper Pent Stream at Cheriton and Morehall.
There are 5 storm overflows within 5km of Folkestone. None of the 3 with a reporting monitor are currently discharging (2 have no live status right now). Enable "Sewage" on the map above to see their locations.
Each has its own page of live status and past discharges:
If flooding is forecast in Folkestone, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for the latest information. Move valuables upstairs, turn off gas and electricity if safe to do so, and avoid walking or driving through flood water. Sign up for flood warnings on any station page above to receive email alerts when water levels rise. For emergency numbers, a preparation checklist and insurance guidance, see our flood help & preparation guide.
Folkestone gets about 846 mm of rain a year on average (wettest month November, 103 mm; driest April, 49 mm). That is 27% drier than the UK as a whole, which averages 1,163 mm a year. See the rain gauges →
A thirty-year average for the area, not a forecast and not a flood risk on its own. Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 (5 km grid), 0.8 km away. Average rainfall: HadUK-Grid v1.3.2, Met Office. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
No recorded flood outline within ~5 km of the Folkestone town centre means no flood was mapped here, which is not evidence none happened: the Environment Agency mapped only some floods, mapping effort rose sharply after about 2000, and surface-water flooding is largely absent from this record. Open the recorded-floods map →
Current verdict: Normal. No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.
Folkestone has river level monitoring on Pent Stream — 1 monitoring station in total.
Use the GOV.UK Check for Flooding service (check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk) or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (24 hours). You can also set up free FloodRadar email or browser alerts from any station page above.
Follow official advice: move valuables and vehicles to safety, never walk or drive through flood water, turn off gas and electricity if safe, and check on vulnerable neighbours. See our flood preparation guide at floodradar.co.uk/flood-help.
No recorded flood outline is mapped around the Folkestone town centre means no flood was mapped here, which is not evidence none happened: the Environment Agency mapped only some floods, mapping effort rose sharply after about 2000, and surface-water flooding is largely absent from this record. FloodRadar has separately logged 10 flood warnings or alerts for the Kent area since February 2026. See the flood history link below.
FloodRadar helper · beta