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Tavistock Flooding

Devon • Live river level monitoring on River Tavy
1 monitoring station
1 river
6 warning areas
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Does Tavistock flood? 110 postcodes in Tavistock are in the Environment Agency's rivers-and-sea flood-risk data (65 High, 15 Medium likelihood) — the breakdown is further down this page.

Flood risk in Tavistock today: Normal

No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.

Updated 2026-10-10 12:32:48 UTC · Official GOV.UK warnings · Flood preparation & help guide

About Tavistock
Tavistock
Town in Devon, England

Tavistock is a market town and civil parish in the West Devon district of Devon, England. It is an ancient stannary situated on the River Tavy, from which its name derives. The town is approximately 12 miles (19 km) north of Plymouth, 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Exeter, and 44 miles (71 km) east northeast of Truro. It had a population of 12,675 at the 2021 census.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Flood Contacts
Floodline 24hr
0345 988 1188
Emergency
999
The map of Tavistock’s gauges and flood maps loads as you reach it.
Recent Flood Events
30 Sep 2026 13:12 Flood Alert
North Devon coast from Hartland Point to Lynmouth
30 Sep 2026 13:11 Flood Alert
South Devon coast from Start Point to Dawlish Warren
30 Sep 2026 13:10 Flood Alert
South Devon Estuaries
30 Sep 2026 10:43 Flood Alert
Plymouth Sound, Wembury Bay and tidal estuaries
29 Sep 2026 14:52 Flood Alert
South Devon coast from Start Point to Dawlish Warren
29 Sep 2026 14:12 Flood Alert
South Devon Estuaries

Does Tavistock flood?

Ordnance Survey places 110 postcodes in Tavistock 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 1,169 properties in the EA dataset's likelihood bands.

EA likelihood bandPostcodes (worst band)Properties in the EA datasetof which homes
High65507354
Medium1514397
Low30519428
Very low000
All bands1101,169879

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.

The 100 highest-likelihood of the 110 at-risk postcodes in Tavistock

High likelihood (65)

Medium likelihood (15)

Low likelihood (30)

…and 10 more at-risk postcodes, listed on the district pages below.

Postcode districts

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.

All data sources & licences

The watercourse nearest Tavistock

The nearest watercourse on the river map is the River Tavy, about 10 m from the middle of Tavistock's gauges. It flows into the River Tamar about 22 km downstream.

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 Tavy nearest the middle of Tavistock'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.

Useful Links
Flood Monitoring in Tavistock

Tavistock is monitored by 1 Environment Agency river level station on the River Tavy, in Devon. Water levels are updated every 15 minutes, providing real-time flood monitoring for the area.

Monitoring Stations

The River Tavy is monitored by 1 station (Tavistock). Each station records water levels continuously, with data synced to FloodRadar every 5 minutes.

Flood Warning Areas

There are 6 Environment Agency flood warning areas within 10km of Tavistock. When the EA issues a flood warning for any of these areas, it will appear on this page. These include: River Tavy including Mary Tavy Sewage Works, Harford Bridge Holiday Park, Pitts Cleave Industrial Estate, Tavistock, A386 and property at Lopwell; Tavistock, Walkhampton, Bedford Bridge, Horrabridge and Lopwell; River Walkham from Huckworthy to Bedford Bridge including Horrabridge, Magpie Leisure Park and the A386; River Tamar from Greystone Bridge to Cotehele Quay, including Gunnislake, Morwellham Quay and Cotehele.

Sewage Discharge Monitoring

There are 14 storm overflows within 5km of Tavistock. None of the 14 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:

What To Do During A Flood

If flooding is forecast in Tavistock, 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.

How much rain falls on Tavistock

Tavistock gets about 1,439 mm of rain a year on average (wettest month December, 172 mm; driest May, 78 mm). That is 24% 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), 2.2 km away. Average rainfall: HadUK-Grid v1.3.2, Met Office. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Recorded floods near Tavistock

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 →

  • 2025-01-06 — Horrabridge (Main river)
  • 2024-11-24 — Morwellham Quay (Main river)
  • 2024-11-24 — Gunnislake (Main river)
  • 2020-12-18 — CW9663 - Horrabridge (Main river)
  • 2018-11-09 — CW9580 - Horrabridge (Drainage)
  • 2018-11-09 — CW9589 - Tavistock (Main river)
  • 2017-07-21 — CW9536 - Horrabridge (Main river)
  • 2016-02-06 — CW9461 - Horrabridge (Main river)
  • 2016-02-06 — CW9463 - Peter Tavy (Ordinary watercourse)
  • 2016-02-06 — CW9470 - Tavistock (Main river)
  • 2016-02-06 — CW9467 - Tavistock (Pitts Cleave) (Ordinary watercourse)
  • 2016-02-06 — CW9469 - Tavistock (Burnside) (Main river)

Records, not floods: no outline on the record is not evidence a place has not flooded.

Frequently asked questions

Is there flooding in Tavistock today?

Current verdict: Normal. No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.

Which rivers affect Tavistock?

Tavistock has river level monitoring on River Tavy — 1 monitoring station in total.

How do I check official flood warnings for Tavistock?

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.

What should I do during a flood warning?

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.

Has Tavistock flooded before?

Yes — the Environment Agency's Recorded Flood Outlines dataset shows 1 recorded flood extent around the town centre since 1703, most recently in 2016. 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.

🏠 Buying or renting around here? Get the Property Flood-Risk Report for any English postcode — official risk band, recorded floods, warning history, river behaviour and nearby storm overflows. £19 one-off. Learn more →