Does Seaford flood?

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

Ordnance Survey places 96 postcodes in Seaford 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 1,284 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 Seaford

• Newhaven Tidal
  Tide · 3.5 km away 3.22 mAOD
  rises and falls with the tide · 1 h ago

Distances are from the middle of Seaford'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 Seaford

10 Environment Agency flood warning areas lie within 10 km of Seaford. The EA has issued 157 flood warnings and alerts for them since 2006, most recently on 25 Oct 2026.

• Areas of Seaford at risk from a high tide including Buckle Close, Beach Close, Dane Close and Steyne Road
  2 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Oct 2023 0.1 km
• Areas of Seaford at risk from a high tide including Buckle Close, Beach Close, Dane Close and Steyne Road
  9 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Jan 2025 0.1 km
• Coastal areas of Seaford seafront including The Esplanade, areas behind and near the Martello Tower, Buckle Caravan and Camping Park and Salts Recreation Ground
  3 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Oct 2023 1.1 km
• Coastal areas of Seaford seafront including The Esplanade, areas behind and near the Martello Tower, Buckle Caravan and Camping Park and Salts Recreation Ground
  79 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Oct 2026 1.1 km
• Tidal areas of the Cuckmere valley from Cuckmere Haven to the A27 including Alfriston
  3 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Feb 2015 3.7 km
• Newhaven including Avis Way Industrial estate, Newhaven Marina, the A26, A259, West Quay, Riverside North, Denton Island, and the east bank
  1 warning or alert since 2006, latest Jan 2017 3.8 km
• Tidal areas of Newhaven including Newhaven Marina, West Quay, Riverside North, Denton Island, and the East bank
  21 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Jan 2018 3.8 km
• Areas at risk of groundwater flooding in Denton including Denton Road, Vicarage Close, and South Heighton.
  6 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Mar 2026 5.5 km
• Cuckmere River at Alfriston from Shermans Bridge to Deans Place Hotel including Milton Lock and Long Bridge
  33 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Feb 2026 6.2 km
• Sussex River Ouse at Piddinghoe, South Heighton and Southease, including northernmost properties on The Street, Rodmell
  no warning on record since 2006 7.4 km

Recorded floods near Seaford

Floods whose mapped extent (EA Recorded Flood Outlines) reached within ~5 km of Seaford, most recent first. Records, not floods: no outline on the record is not evidence a place has not flooded. See them on the map →

• 22 Jan 2009 — 07420K501FEO_Jan2009_LowerCuckmere_Alfriston Main river
• 12 Oct 2000 — 07421J601FEO_OCT2000_Ouse_BarcombeMills River
• 28 Oct 1996 — 07421J609FEO_OCT1996_Seaford Sea
• 23 Nov 1974 — 07419K501FEO_NOV1974_Cuckmere_Alfriston Main river

Rainfall near Seaford

Seaford gets about 766 mm of rain a year on average (wettest month November, 102 mm; driest April, 42 mm). That is 34% drier than the UK as a whole, which averages 1,163 mm a year. Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 (5 km grid), 1.6 km from the place centre.

The nearest rain gauge, Rainfall station (3.6 km away), recorded 0.7 mm in the last 24 hours and 67.6 mm in the last 7 days (latest reading 32 min ago).

At-risk postcodes in Seaford

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

High likelihood (2)

Medium likelihood (28)

Low likelihood (66)

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.