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Does Ramsbottom flood? 25 postcodes in Ramsbottom are in the Environment Agency's rivers-and-sea flood-risk data (10 High, 14 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 2026-10-10 12:26:15 UTC · Official GOV.UK warnings · Flood preparation & help guide
Ramsbottom is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. The population at the 2011 census was 17,872. Historically in Lancashire, it lies on the River Irwell in the West Pennine Moors, 3.9 miles (6.3 km) north-west of Bury and 12 miles (19 km) of Manchester. Its Victorian architecture, Pennine landscape and industrial heritage, including the East Lancashire Railway, contribute to heritage tourism in the town.
Ordnance Survey places 25 postcodes in Ramsbottom 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 320 properties in the EA dataset's likelihood bands.
| EA likelihood band | Postcodes (worst band) | Properties in the EA dataset | of which homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 10 | 59 | 19 |
| Medium | 14 | 224 | 173 |
| Low | 1 | 37 | 25 |
| Very low | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All bands | 25 | 320 | 217 |
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.
Haslingden · Whitworth · Water · Oswaldtwistle
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 the River Irwell, about 10 m from the middle of Ramsbottom's gauges.
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 the River Irwell nearest the middle of Ramsbottom'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.
Ramsbottom is monitored by 1 Environment Agency river level station on the River Irwell, in Greater Manchester. Water levels are updated every 15 minutes, providing real-time flood monitoring for the area.
The River Irwell is monitored by 1 station (Ramsbottom Weir). Each station records water levels continuously, with data synced to FloodRadar every 5 minutes.
There are 8 Environment Agency flood warning areas within 10km of Ramsbottom. When the EA issues a flood warning for any of these areas, it will appear on this page. These include: Areas at risk include the firestation, the treatment works, Great Eaves Rd and Athol street. Other areas at risk include Garden Street, Kenyon St, Nuttall Park and Ramsbottom Football and Cricket grounds; Areas at risk are those adjacent to the River Irwell through Strongstry and Chatterton. Including North St, Strongstry Bridge, Chatterton Rd. Other areas at risk include Areas in the vicinity of, Bolton Rd North, and Cuba industrial estate; Areas at risk include land and properties alongside the river at Summerseat, including some properties on Waterside Road, Riverside Drive and The Island; Properties on Hammer Terrace, Ruby Street, Holly Street, Beech Street, Thorn Street and Waterside Road. Also at risk are properties on Kay Street, Railway Street, Melrose Street, Hall Street, The Island and Riverside Drive.
There are 17 storm overflows within 5km of Ramsbottom. None of the 17 with a reporting monitor are currently discharging. Enable "Sewage" on the map above to see their locations.
6 of them, nearest first, with their own page of live status and past discharges:
If flooding is forecast in Ramsbottom, 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.
Ramsbottom gets about 1,507 mm of rain a year on average (wettest month December, 180 mm; driest April, 86 mm). That is 30% wetter 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), 1.8 km away. Average rainfall: HadUK-Grid v1.3.2, Met Office. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Floods whose mapped extent (EA Recorded Flood Outlines) reached within ~5 km of the town centre — most recent first. These are records of mapped extents, not a full list of floods. See them on the map →
Records, not floods: no outline on the record is not evidence a place has not flooded.
Current verdict: Normal. No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.
Ramsbottom has river level monitoring on River Irwell — 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.
Yes — the Environment Agency's Recorded Flood Outlines dataset shows 19 recorded flood extents around the town centre since 1703, most recently in 2024. That is a count of mapped extents, not of separate floods. Records, not floods: no outline on the record is not evidence a place has not flooded. See the flood history link below.
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