FloodRadar
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FloodRadar
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Get notified about Southwold — tick as many as you like, they all share the notify settings below.
Each one is saved as its own alert — pause or remove them individually any time.
Not an emergency service — if in danger call 999. Alerts rely on EA/SEPA/NRW data and are best-efforts. Terms
Flood predictions aren't generated for tidal gauges — their levels are driven by the tide, not by catchment rainfall, so the forecast models would have no skill here.
Geographic coordinates may reflect the access point for the gauge, and not the precise location in the watercourse that it is taking readings from.
Gauges connected to this river, and others nearby. A distance “by river” follows the river on the map; any other is in a straight line.
Distances by river: OS Open Rivers. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2026.
Storm overflows whose water reaches this gauge on the mapped river network, nearest first by distance along the river. The status is each water company's monitor: it says whether an overflow is discharging, not how much or what it contains.
4 storm overflows are traced upstream of this gauge, the nearest 14.7 km away along the river. 0 report discharging now, 4 report not discharging.
Within 6 km in a straight line, but the river map cannot say whether their water passes this gauge.
These are the water companies' monitor statuses; a spill does not by itself explain a change in the gauge level. River connections and distances are traced on OS Open Rivers (edition 2026-04), which leaves out many small channels. Explore the sewage map →
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2026.
Loading rainfall and weather data...
Official Environment Agency warnings issued since 2007 for the 7 flood areas linked to this gauge (nearest 1.5 km away).
Most recent flood warning: 4 Oct 2025 — The Suffolk coast at Southwold
| Year | Severe | Warnings | Alerts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| 2024 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
| 2023 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 | 19 |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 2020 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 2019 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 | 8 | 17 |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2015 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 2014 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| 2012 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 2011 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Warnings apply to a whole flood area, not necessarily this exact spot. Years before 2006 aren't covered by the EA's historic record. See also the Southwold flood history.
Flood warnings and alerts are issued for whole areas. These are the 7 areas linked to this gauge, nearest first.
The latest recorded level is 0.37m. Compare it with the recent history on the chart above to judge whether levels are unusually high.
Based on the most recent readings, the level is currently falling. The chart above shows the last 12 hours of measurements by default (up to 7 days), updated roughly every 15 minutes.
When little or no rain has fallen for a while, a river level gradually drops as the water stored in the ground and soil drains away with nothing to replace it. This is called baseflow recession and is normal in dry spells. Only about 1.8mm of rain has fallen nearby in the last 7 days, so the flow is being sustained mainly by groundwater. A gentle decline like this is expected and is not a sign of a problem — downstream gauges often recede a little faster than headwaters further upstream, and levels recover once rain returns.
Readings are supplied by the Environment Agency gauge. FloodRadar checks for updates roughly every 15 minutes; the timestamp above shows how recent the latest available reading is.
Free live river-level widget — ideal for parish councils, angling clubs and local sites. Updates automatically.
Postcodes within 5 km with properties in the Environment Agency’s rivers-and-sea flood-risk bands:
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