Does Gravesend flood?

What the Environment Agency's rivers-and-sea flood-risk data says about Gravesend

Ordnance Survey places 104 postcodes in Gravesend 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 1,730 properties in the EA dataset's likelihood bands.

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.

Rivers and live river levels near Gravesend

Environment Agency gauges within 10 km of Gravesend watch Thames Tideway.

• Tilbury Tidal
  Thames Tideway · 4.0 km away -0.30 mAOD
  rises and falls with the tide · 31 min ago

Distances are from the middle of Gravesend's at-risk postcodes. Tidal and structure gauges are shown as readings only — the tide and sluice gates move them, not floods. A gauge with no recent reading shows no level.

Flood warning areas near Gravesend

7 Environment Agency flood warning areas lie within 10 km of Gravesend. The EA has issued 241 flood warnings and alerts for them since 2006, most recently on 18 Apr 2026.

• Areas at risk of tidal flooding on seaward side of tidal defences from Greenhithe to Denton, including Northfleet and Gravesend
  3 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Feb 2022 0.4 km
• Areas at risk of tidal flooding in Gravesend and Northfleet, including Swanscombe 2.9 km
• The Essex coast at Coalhouse Fort and surrounding marshland at East Tilbury
  40 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Apr 2024 3.9 km
• The Essex coast at Coalhouse Fort and the surrounding area
  74 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Apr 2026 3.9 km
• The Essex coast from Fobbing to Purfleet-on-Thames, including Tilbury, Grays and the Dartford Crossing
  38 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Dec 2025 4.5 km
• Grays to Purfleet-on-Thames, from Dock Road, in Grays, to London Road, in Purfleet-on-Thames 8.2 km
• Areas at risk of tidal flooding from Dartford to Allhallows, including Crayford, Greenhithe, Northfleet, Gravesend and the North Kent Marshes
  86 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Mar 2026 8.5 km

Recorded floods near Gravesend

Floods whose mapped extent (EA Recorded Flood Outlines) reached within ~5 km of Gravesend, most recent first. Absence of a record does not mean a place has never flooded. See them on the map →

• 14 Sep 1968 — 07337E200_SEPT1968_Darent_Dartford Main river
• 1 Feb 1953 — 07301E900/C100_FEB1953_Isle of Grain Sea
• 31 Jan 1953 — 1953 Coast Flood Outline Essex Sea
• 31 Jan 1953 — 07301E900_FEB1953_Dartford/Swanscombe Sea
• 31 Jan 1953 — 07301E900_FEB1953_Dartford Creek_Denton Sea

Rainfall near Gravesend

The nearest rain gauge, Rainfall station (7.9 km away), recorded 0.0 mm in the last 24 hours and 21.4 mm in the last 7 days (latest reading 32 min ago).

At-risk postcodes in Gravesend

Every postcode Ordnance Survey places in Gravesend that appears in the EA's rivers-and-sea dataset, worst band first. Each links to its own flood-risk page.

High likelihood (14)

Medium likelihood (12)

Low likelihood (6)

Very low likelihood (72)

Postcode districts

Sources

FloodRadar summarises public flood data. It is not a flood-risk survey of any property, and it does not replace official GOV.UK flood warnings or the GOV.UK long-term flood risk service.