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Flood & hazards in Ellesmere Port · Environment Agency

Heavy rain is Ellesmere Port’s main flood risk: 5.4% of homes, against under 0.1% from rivers or the sea

On the Environment Agency’s maps, which allow for flood defences, “high or medium” means at least a 1 in 100 chance of flooding from rivers or the sea in any year. Ellesmere Port’s Hazard risk Grade is B: #26 of 46 in Cheshire.

1971worst recorded flood7flood warnings since 20060.4%at low risk
In brief

What stands out about Ellesmere Port’s hazards

From the Environment Agency’s maps and records and the BGS radon atlas, below.

Rain, more than the river5.4% of homes sit where heavy rain can flood the streets, against under 0.1% at risk from rivers and the sea.Remembers 1971Floodwater covered 5 hectares of today’s Ellesmere Port in 1971; 22 of today’s households live inside past flood outlines.7 flood warnings since 2006For the parts of Ellesmere Port the Environment Agency warns directly; the most recent on 7 December 2024.
By hazard

What Ellesmere Port faces

Each hazard against its own yardstick; meters run from low to high on that yardstick.

Rivers and the sea

under 0.1%of homes at high or medium risk
Fewer than the typical UK town · more than 41% of towns
44 homes by the EA’s own count

Surface water

5.4%of homes at high or medium risk
More than 73% of UK towns
Rivers and sea: under 0.1%

Past floods

4years with a recorded flood
Last recorded: August 2023
22 households inside past outlines

The Rivacre Brook

0.91 mhighest in winter 2025–26 at Chase Way, Ellesmere Port
11th-highest of 14 winters
Record 2.13 m, January 2021

Flood warnings

7flood warnings since 2006
115 flood alerts for the wider area
Last warning 7 December 2024

Radon

3%of the town in a radon Affected Area
Highest band here: 1–3% of homes
No square of 5% or more
Not on this page: coastal erosion, subsidence and shrink-swell ground (the British Geological Survey licenses it), groundwater flooding and reservoir failure.
Hazard risk Grade

Ellesmere Port grades B for hazard risk

Flood risk from rivers and the sea, against all UK towns.

Homes at high or medium flood risk (under 0.1%)Fewer than 59% of UK towns

The share of homes at high or medium risk from rivers and the sea, ranked against every UK town of 1,000 or more: fewer homes at risk is better. Towns with none at high or medium risk are ordered by their share at low risk, so they don’t all share one score. Surface water and radon aren’t graded: they are described below.

Flood map

Where the water goes in Ellesmere Port

Turn layers on and off. Blue is the risk from rivers and the sea; pink is where heavy rain collects. Both allow for flood defences.

Recorded flood: 1971Recorded flood: 2008Recorded flood: 2021Recorded flood: 2023© OpenStreetMap contributors · EA NaFRA2
HighMediumLowrivers & seaHighMediumLowsurface waterEllesmere Port’s built-up area

The river and sea risk follows the Wirral, the River Gowy and the Irish Sea. Surface-water risk is spread across the town, in dips, underpasses and along small streams, which is why more homes are exposed to it.

Rivers and the sea

Under 0.1% of Ellesmere Port’s homes are at high or medium risk from rivers or the sea

The Environment Agency’s national map, allowing for defences. A further 0.4% are at low risk.

High riskunder 0.1%of homes · 1 in 30 a year or more25 homes, EA count
Medium riskunder 0.1%of homes · 1 in 30 to 1 in 10019 homes, EA count
Low risk0.4%of homes · 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000125 homes, EA count
Where Ellesmere Port sits among 3,735 UK towns
35%None
23%Under 0.5%Ellesmere Port
9%0.5–1%
11%1–2%
11%2–5%
5%5–10%
3%10–20%
2%20% +

Share of each UK town’s homes at high or medium risk from rivers and the sea. 35% of UK towns have none; Ellesmere Port has more than 41% of towns.

Towns its size: 23rd of 113 from the fewest homes at risk
#TownPeopleHigh or med.
1Dudley West Midlands64,2770%
2Smethwick West Midlands56,3430%
3Bootle Merseyside53,7220%
…
21Kingswinford West Midlands51,900under 0.1%
22Crewe Cheshire74,116under 0.1%
23Ellesmere Port Cheshire65,425under 0.1%
24Wellingborough Northamptonshire54,421under 0.1%
25Chatham Kent76,9560.1%
…
112West Molesey Surrey47,1447.2%
113Grimsby Lincolnshire85,9158.9%

UK towns of 46,000 to 92,000 people.

The Environment Agency’s Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea (NaFRA2, June 2026) counts each postcode’s homes by band; the shares weight those postcodes by Census 2021 households. The EA counts include homes built since 2021.

Surface water

5.4% of Ellesmere Port’s homes are at high or medium risk from surface water

Surface water is rain that falls faster than drains and the ground can take it. It is mapped separately from rivers and the sea, and it is not in the Hazard risk Grade.

Surface water5.4%
Rivers and the seaunder 0.1%
0%10.5%21% of homes

About 2.3% of homes are at high risk of surface-water flooding (a 1 in 30 chance or more each year) and 3.2% at medium risk: roughly 1,560 households. A further 9.6% face a low risk from surface water. That is more than 73% of UK towns.

~1,560
households at high or medium risk
9.6%
of homes at low risk
73%
of UK towns have a smaller share
34,653
addresses read on the map

Our estimate: every address in the town (ONS NSUL) read on the Environment Agency’s Risk of Flooding from Surface Water map (NaFRA2, 2025), each postcode’s share weighted by its Census 2021 households. Neither agency publishes a count of homes for surface water, so treat it as a guide; one street can differ from the next.

Flood history

Ellesmere Port has flooded in 4 recorded years since 1971, most of all in 1971

Every flood the Environment Agency has mapped inside Ellesmere Port’s built-up area, newest first. The record is fullest for big river floods; small and surface-water floods are often missing.

  1. 2023August 2023: River flooding recorded1 hectare inside today’s built-up area · Ascot Drive and Chase Way, Great Sutton, Green Lane, Great Sutton, Spinney Drive, Kendal Drive
  2. 2021January 2021: River flooding recorded2 hectares inside today’s built-up area · Ellsemere Port
  3. 2008September 2008: River flooding recordedUnder 1 hectare inside today’s built-up area
  4. 1971April 1971: River flooding recorded5 hectares inside today’s built-up area
The worst: 19715 ha

Floodwater covered 5 hectares of what is now Ellesmere Port in 1971, the largest flood the record holds here (April).

22 of Ellesmere Port’s households today live inside the outline of a recorded flood.

Since 1971, the largest recorded flood inside the town covered 2 hectares.

River levels

The Rivacre Brook at Chase Way, Ellesmere Port: highest 2.13 m, in January 2021

The highest level each winter (October to September) at the Environment Agency’s Chase Way, Ellesmere Port gauge, since 2005. The river normally runs between 0.20 m and 1.49 m here.

Highest level each winter, metres
Winter 2005–06: highest 0.79 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2006–07: highest 1.26 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2007–08: highest 1.79 m on 5 September 2008 · 1 days above the normal rangeWinter 2008–09: highest 0.86 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2009–10: highest 1.30 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2010–11: highest 0.80 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2011–12: highest 1.55 m on 24 September 2012 · 1 days above the normal rangeWinter 2012–13: highest 1.13 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2014–15: highest 1.36 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2015–16: highest 1.62 m on 16 June 2016 · 1 days above the normal rangeWinter 2018–19: highest 1.43 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2022–23: highest 1.97 m on 26 August 2023 · 2 days above the normal rangeWinter 2023–24: highest 1.44 m · 0 days above the normal rangeWinter 2025–26: highest 0.91 m · 0 days above the normal range’22–23’07–08’15–16Record 2.13 m, 2021Top of normal range
2005–062025–26
The highest days on record
  • 26 August 20231.97 m
  • 5 September 20081.79 m
  • 16 June 20161.62 m
  • 7 September 20221.61 m
  • 15 December 20171.56 m
  • 24 September 20121.55 m

The Rivacre Brook has topped its normal range on 5 days since 2005, most in the winters of 2022–23 and 2007–08. By its highest day, the winter of 2025–26 was the 11th-highest of the 14.

Environment Agency Hydrology API, Chase Way, Ellesmere Port (station 685120), daily maximum level; the record and normal range from the EA’s stage scale. Live river levels are on GOV.UK’s Check for flooding.

Flood warnings

No flood warning or alert is in force for Ellesmere Port · 7 warnings in 20 years

The Environment Agency has 2 flood warning areas and 3 alert areas reaching into the town; warnings since the service began in 2006.

Now: no flood warnings or alerts for Ellesmere Port (checked 12 November 2026, 04:57). Check for flooding on GOV.UK →
Warnings and alerts each year for areas in Ellesmere Port
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Flood warning (flooding expected)Flood alert (flooding possible)

The warning area covering the most of Ellesmere Port, Irish Sea and Mersey estuary from the Head of the Wirral to Runcorn, has not had a flood warning since 2006. Of the 7 warnings, 7 were for Rivacre Brook at Great Sutton.

2012 had the most warnings (1); 2024 the most alerts (20). The most recent warning was on 7 December 2024.

Show the 5 warning and alert areas
AreaKindSince 2006Now
Rivacre Brook at Great SuttonWarning area7None
Irish Sea and Mersey estuary from the Head of the Wirral to RuncornWarning area0None
Mersey Estuary from Liverpool and Wirral to WidnesAlert area49None
River Gowy catchment including areas around FrodshamAlert area45None
Wirral catchment with Heswall, Ellesmere Port, Bebington, Hoylake and WallaseyAlert area21None

Environment Agency Historic Flood Warnings (first issues only, not updates; “flood watch” counted as an alert before 2011) and the real-time flood-monitoring API. Sign up for free warnings on GOV.UK or call Floodline, 0345 988 1188.

Radon

Parts of Ellesmere Port are in radon Affected Areas, at the low end

Radon is a natural radioactive gas from the ground; long exposure raises the risk of lung cancer. The atlas gives the chance that a home in each 1 km square is above the UK action level (200 Bq/m³).

SJ3576: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3577: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3674: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3675: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3676: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3677: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3679: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3772: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3773: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3774: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3775: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3776: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3777: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3778: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3779: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3872: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3873: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3874: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3875: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3876: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3877: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3878: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3879: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3973: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3974: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3975: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3976: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3977: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ3978: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4073: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4074: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4075: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4076: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4077: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4173: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4174: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4175: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4176: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4177: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4274: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4275: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4276: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4374: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4375: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4376: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSJ4474: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4475: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4476: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4477: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4574: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ4575: Under 1% of homes above the action level© OpenStreetMap contributors · BGS/UKHSA
Under 1%1–3%
Share of the town’s area in each band
Under 1% of homes97%
1–3% of homes3%

3% of Ellesmere Port’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area (1% of homes or more above the action level).

The squares are indicative: each takes the highest band found anywhere inside it, so most homes in a coloured square are below it. Only a three-month test in the home gives a real answer.

BGS/UKHSA Indicative Atlas of Radon in Great Britain, version 3. Check an address at UKradon.org.

Neighbours

Flood risk in the places around Ellesmere Port

Share of homes at high or medium and at low risk from rivers and the sea. Tap a town for its page.

Moston: Hazard risk ASaughall: Hazard risk BWillaston (Cheshire West and Chester): Hazard risk AElton: Hazard risk AMickle Trafford: Hazard risk C+Bebington: Hazard risk B−Garden City: Hazard risk D−MostonSaughallWillaston (Cheshire West and Chester)EltonMickle TraffordBebingtonGarden CityEllesmere Port
ABCD
TownPeopleHigh or mediumLowHazard
Ellesmere Port65,425under 0.1%0.4%B
Moston1,0990%0%A
Saughall2,655under 0.1%under 0.1%B
Willaston (Cheshire West and Chester)2,4720%0%A
Elton3,2930%0%A
Mickle Trafford1,8400.5%15%C+
Bebington57,6070.2%under 0.1%B−
Garden City2,42710%89%D−

Garden City, 5.6 miles south-west, has the most homes at risk around Ellesmere Port (10% at high or medium). Moston, Willaston (Cheshire West and Chester) and Elton have none.

Be ready

Get ready for what Ellesmere Port faces

Free warnings, what to do in a cloudburst, and what to check before you move.

Get the warnings
  • Sign up free for Environment Agency flood warnings by text, call or email.
  • Floodline: 0345 988 1188, 24 hours.
  • Ellesmere Port’s warning areas include Irish Sea and Mersey estuary from the Head of the Wirral to Runcorn and Rivacre Brook at Great Sutton.
Sign up ↗
In a cloudburst
  • Surface water rises in minutes, often with no warning issued: stay out of underpasses and dips.
  • Keep the gullies and drains outside your home clear of leaves.
  • Report a blocked road drain to the council.
Radon
  • Test over three months, in a living room and a bedroom.
  • Above 200 Bq/m³, a small sump and fan usually fixes it.
  • New homes in radon areas are built with protection: basic from 3%, full from 10%.
UKradon ↗
Before you buy or rent in Ellesmere Port
  • Check the address on GOV.UK’s long-term flood risk service: it gives rivers and sea and surface water separately.
  • Ask whether the home has flooded or had a flood insurance claim; the TA6 property form asks the seller.
  • Homes built before 2009 can get flood cover through Flood Re, the government-backed scheme; newer homes can’t.
  • Check radon for the address on UKradon.org (a small fee) or ask the seller for a test result.
How to read these numbers

What this data can and can’t tell you

  • Defences are counted. Both agencies’ maps allow for flood defences and the chance they are overtopped or fail, so a town behind a defence scheme can show few homes at high risk and many at low risk.
  • Surface water is our estimate. Neither agency publishes a count of homes at risk from surface water, so we read each address on the map. A flat on a hill and a basement in a dip can share a postcode.
  • Past floods are what was recorded. The flood outlines come from surveys, aerial photographs and reports; many small floods, and most surface-water floods, were never mapped.
  • One town, many streets. Risk is street by street. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s long-term flood risk service before you buy or rent.

Check the long-term flood risk for an address on GOV.UK →

Questions about flooding and hazards in Ellesmere Port

Does Ellesmere Port flood?

The last flood the Environment Agency recorded inside the town was in August 2023. Under 0.1% of homes are at high or medium risk from rivers and the sea on the Environment Agency’s maps, which allow for flood defences. About 5.4% of homes are at high or medium risk from surface water, when heavy rain overwhelms the drains. Ellesmere Port grades B for hazard risk against UK towns.

Which parts of Ellesmere Port are at risk of flooding?

From rivers and the sea, the places the Environment Agency warns directly: Rivacre Brook at Great Sutton and Irish Sea and Mersey estuary from the Head of the Wirral to Runcorn. Surface water can collect in low spots anywhere in the town. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s long-term flood risk service.

When did Ellesmere Port last flood?

The recorded flood outlines inside the town run from 1971 to 2023 (4 years); the largest was in 1971. Flood warnings have been issued for parts of the town since 2006, most recently on 7 December 2024.

Is Ellesmere Port at risk of surface water flooding?

About 2.3% of homes are at high risk and 3.2% at medium risk from surface water, against under 0.1% at high or medium risk from rivers and the sea. Surface water floods come with little warning, and the agencies don’t issue warnings for them.

Is radon a problem in Ellesmere Port?

3% of the town’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area on the BGS/UKHSA atlas. Most homes are below it; a three-month test is the only way to know.

Are there flood warnings in Ellesmere Port now?

No flood warning or alert was in force near Ellesmere Port at 12 November 2026, 04:57. Live warnings are on GOV.UK’s Check for flooding service and Floodline, 0345 988 1188.

Contains Environment Agency information © Environment Agency and/or database right 2026. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026.

Sources: Environment Agency Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea, postcodes in areas at risk (June 2026); Natural Resources Wales Flood Risk Assessment Wales (May 2026); ONS Census 2021 households by postcode · Environment Agency Risk of Flooding from Surface Water (NaFRA2, 2025) and Natural Resources Wales Flood Risk Assessment Wales surface water and small watercourses, read at every address (ONS National Statistics UPRN Lookup, September 2026) and weighted by Census 2021 households by postcode · Environment Agency Recorded Flood Outlines and Natural Resources Wales historic flood map, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Environment Agency Hydrology API (daily maximum river level) and flood-monitoring stage scales · Environment Agency real-time flood-monitoring API · Environment Agency Historic Flood Warnings (January 2006 to June 2026) and flood warning and alert areas · BGS/UKHSA Indicative Atlas of Radon in Great Britain, version 3, by 1 km square · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.