Does Widnes flood?

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

Ordnance Survey places 109 postcodes in Widnes 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 981 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 Widnes

Environment Agency gauges within 10 km of Widnes watch River Mersey, Netherley Brook, Sankey Brook, Sutton Mill Brook.

• Fiddlers Ferry Tidal
  River Mersey · 6.0 km away 4.86 m
  rises and falls with the tide · 31 min ago
• Winster Drive
  Netherley Brook · 6.1 km away 0.62 m
  normal range · falling · 31 min ago
• Liverpool Road Tidal
  Sankey Brook · 8.2 km away 2.33 m
  rises and falls with the tide · 31 min ago
• Ellamsbridge Road, St Helens
  Sutton Mill Brook · 8.7 km away 0.16 m
  normal range · steady · 31 min ago

Distances are from the middle of Widnes'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 Widnes

20 Environment Agency flood warning areas lie within 10 km of Widnes. The EA has issued 358 flood warnings and alerts for them since 2006, most recently on 18 Apr 2026.

• Areas at risk include properties on Hale Road, Oldgate, St Michael's Close, St Michael's industrial estate, and Ditton Road. Also at risk are properties on Fieldgate and Marshgate
  1 warning or alert since 2006, latest Jun 2016 1.5 km
• Areas at risk include land and property on Hale Road, Harrison Street, Lovel Terrace, Clapgate Crescent and some properties on Burmarsh Lane
  1 warning or alert since 2006, latest Jun 2016 2.0 km
• The Ditton catchment includes, Ditton, Logwood Mill, Fox's Bank, Dog Clog, Stewards, and Netherley Brooks and their tributaries. Also including the areas around Huyton, Widnes and Penketh
  33 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Nov 2025 3.1 km
• Areas at risk include land and property in the vicinity of Cart Bridge, Green Bridge, and the kennels. Some property on Applewood Grove, Lightoaks drive, Cherrywood Avenue and Redoaks Way. Other property at risk are some caravans on Lower Road 4.6 km
• Fiddlers Ferry area including the Sailing Club, The Ferry Tavern and Riverside Trading Estate are at risk of flooding from the Mersey Estuary due to high tides
  36 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Oct 2024 5.3 km
• Areas at risk include land, and some property along Winster Drive 5.8 km
• The area at Moss Side Lane and Lapwing Lane are at risk of flooding from the estuary due to high tides.
  4 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Jan 2018 6.4 km
• Areas at risk include Fiddlers Ferry, Eastford Road, Arpley Bridge, Knutsford Road, Howley, Kingsway North and Westy
  246 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Apr 2026 6.4 km
• Areas at risk include some properties on Mill Lane and Sutton Quays Business Park
  1 warning or alert since 2006, latest Oct 2023 7.0 km
• Areas at risk include the Meadowgate Farm area
  4 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Oct 2023 7.0 km
• Areas at risk include properties on Alder and Hall Lane. Also Winwick Quay, Longford, Hawleys Business Park, Orford, Callands, Bewsey. Also parts of Penketh and Sankey Bridges South of the A562 and A57 and Gatewarth Industrial Estate
  2 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Jan 2021 7.3 km
• Areas at risk include land and property on landsdowne Court, parts of Waterdale Crescent, Boscow Crescent, Dawsone Avenue, and Gerrards Lane. Also at risk, land alongside Sutton Mill Brook from Waterdale Crescent to Damhouse Bridge, Sutton Mill Dam
  6 warnings and alerts since 2006, latest Jan 2025 7.3 km

Recorded floods near Widnes

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

• 1 Jan 2025 — Warrington Penketh - NYE/NYD 25 Drainage
• 5 Dec 2013 — ea013_051213_CarrLaneBridge Main river
• 5 Dec 2013 — ea013_051213_HaleVillage Main river
• 9 Sep 2002 — FOXB
• 31 Jan 2002 — RAMS
• 31 Jan 2002 — DITT Main river
• 10 Oct 2000 — ALDB
• 10 Oct 2000 — BARG
• 3 Jun 2000 — ALDB
• 24 Dec 1997 — BARG
• 10 Oct 1997 — BARG
• 26 Feb 1990 — DITT Main river

Rainfall near Widnes

The nearest rain gauge, Rainfall station (11.6 km away), recorded 3.2 mm in the last 24 hours and 13.5 mm in the last 7 days (latest reading 46 min ago).

At-risk postcodes in Widnes

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

High likelihood (11)

Medium likelihood (45)

Low likelihood (40)

Very low likelihood (13)

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.