FloodRadar
Log inCreate free account
FloodRadar
Log inCreate free account
No official flood warning is active nearby and the closest river stations are within normal ranges.
Updated 2026-10-09 13:00:17 UTC · Official GOV.UK warnings · Flood preparation & help guide
Widford is an area of Chelmsford in Essex, England. It was formerly a separate village but now forms part of the Chelmsford built up area, lying 1.5 miles (2 km) south-west of the city centre. In includes mixed residential, industrial and rural areas lying generally south of the River Can, east of the River Wid and mostly to the west of the Great Eastern Main Line. It has been administered as part of Chelmsford since 1934.
The nearest watercourse on the river map is the River Wid, about 10 m from the middle of Widford's gauges. It flows into the River Can about 1.8 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 Wid nearest the middle of Widford'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.
Widford is monitored by 1 Environment Agency river level station on the River Wid, in Essex. Water levels are updated every 15 minutes, providing real-time flood monitoring for the area.
The River Wid is monitored by 1 station (Writtle). Each station records water levels continuously, with data synced to FloodRadar every 5 minutes.
There are 7 Environment Agency flood warning areas within 10km of Widford. When the EA issues a flood warning for any of these areas, it will appear on this page. These include: Riverside properties in Chelmsford, from Rivermead Industrial Estate through Central and Admirals Park including the cricket ground, to Lordship Lane; The Rivers Can and Chelmer through Chelmsford, including the High Street and Meadows Shopping Centre; The River Wid from Ingatestone to Writtle, including Margaretting; The River Wid from Brentwood, to and including Writtle, and the River Can at Chelmsford.
There are 11 storm overflows within 5km of Widford. None of the 11 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 Widford, 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.
Widford gets about 582 mm of rain a year on average (wettest month October, 62 mm; driest March, 35 mm). That is 50% 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), 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.
Widford has river level monitoring on River Wid — 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 5 recorded flood extents around the town centre since 1703, most recently in 1958. 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.
FloodRadar helper · beta