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View from Sheepcote Street bridge. Birmingham City centrePhoto: Gillie Rhodes · CC BY-SA 2.0
C+Hazard risk Grade
Flood & hazards in Birmingham · Environment Agency

Surface water, more than the river, is Birmingham’s flood risk: 4.6% of homes, against 0.8% 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. Hazard risk puts Birmingham at C+: #27 of 35 in West Midlands.

2008worst recorded flood118flood warnings since 200618%in a radon Affected Area
In brief

What stands out about Birmingham’s hazards

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

Rain, more than the river4.6% of homes sit where heavy rain can flood the streets, against 0.8% at risk from rivers and the sea.Remembers 2008The River Rea covered 27 hectares of today’s Birmingham in 2008; 482 of today’s households live inside past flood outlines.118 flood warnings since 2006For the parts of Birmingham the Environment Agency warns directly; the most recent on 14 November 2025.Radon in parts9% of the city is in 1 km squares where 5% or more of homes may be above the radon action level.
By hazard

What Birmingham faces

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

Rivers and the sea

0.8%of homes at high or medium risk
More than the typical UK town · more than 64% of towns
3,851 homes by the EA’s own count

Surface water

4.6%of homes at high or medium risk
More than 63% of UK towns
Rivers and sea: 0.8%

Past floods

2years with a recorded flood
Last recorded: August 2008
482 households inside past outlines

The River Tame

2.89 mhighest in winter 2025–26 at Water Orton
9th-highest of 35 winters
Record 3.43 m, July 1968

Flood warnings

118flood warnings since 2006
575 flood alerts for the wider area
Last warning 14 November 2025

Radon

18%of the city in a radon Affected Area
Highest band here: 10–30% of homes
9% in squares 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

Birmingham grades C+ for hazard risk

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

Homes at high or medium flood risk (0.8%)Fewer than 36% 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 Birmingham

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: 2007River Rea: 2008© OpenStreetMap contributors · EA NaFRA2
HighMediumLowrivers & seaHighMediumLowsurface waterBirmingham’s built-up area

The river and sea risk follows the River Cole, the River Blythe and the River Rea. Surface-water risk is spread across the city, in dips, underpasses and along small streams, which is why more homes are exposed to it.

Rivers and the sea

0.8% of Birmingham’s homes are at high or medium risk from rivers or the sea

The Environment Agency’s national map, allowing for defences. A further 0.9% are at low risk.

High risk0.4%of homes · 1 in 30 a year or more1,679 homes, EA count
Medium risk0.4%of homes · 1 in 30 to 1 in 1002,172 homes, EA count
Low risk0.9%of homes · 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,0004,094 homes, EA count
Where Birmingham sits among 3,735 UK towns
35%None
23%Under 0.5%
9%0.5–1%Birmingham
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; Birmingham has more than 64% of towns.

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

Heavy rain puts about 5.8 times as many Birmingham homes at risk as rivers and the sea do

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 water4.6%
Rivers and the sea0.8%
0%7%14% of homes

About 2% of homes are at high risk of surface-water flooding (a 1 in 30 chance or more each year) and 2.5% at medium risk: roughly 18,890 households. A further 7.1% face a low risk from surface water. That is more than 63% of UK towns.

~18,890
households at high or medium risk
7.1%
of homes at low risk
63%
of UK towns have a smaller share
517,038
addresses read on the map

Our estimate: every address in the city (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

Birmingham has flooded in 2 recorded years since 2007, most of all in 2008

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

  1. 2008August 2008: The River Rea overflowed27 hectares inside today’s built-up area · River Rea Flood at Selly Park
  2. 2007July 2007: River flooding recorded2 hectares inside today’s built-up area · Brook Vale Road, Water Orton
The worst: 200827 ha

The River Rea covered 27 hectares of what is now Birmingham in 2008, the largest flood the record holds here (August).

482 of Birmingham’s households today live inside the outline of a recorded flood.

River levels

The River Tame at Water Orton: highest 3.43 m, in July 1968

The highest level each winter (October to September) at the Environment Agency’s Water Orton gauge (Water Orton), since 1990. The river normally runs between 0.27 m and 1.44 m here.

Highest level each winter, metres
Winter 1990–91: highest 2.30 m · 12 days above the normal rangeWinter 1991–92: highest 2.61 m · 15 days above the normal rangeWinter 1993–94: highest 2.73 m · 13 days above the normal rangeWinter 1994–95: highest 2.25 m · 10 days above the normal rangeWinter 1995–96: highest 2.11 m · 9 days above the normal rangeWinter 1996–97: highest 2.58 m · 17 days above the normal rangeWinter 1997–98: highest 2.41 m · 17 days above the normal rangeWinter 1998–99: highest 2.95 m on 8 August 1999 · 23 days above the normal rangeWinter 1999–00: highest 2.50 m · 22 days above the normal rangeWinter 2000–01: highest 2.59 m · 33 days above the normal rangeWinter 2001–02: highest 2.42 m · 12 days above the normal rangeWinter 2002–03: highest 2.56 m · 14 days above the normal rangeWinter 2003–04: highest 2.21 m · 23 days above the normal rangeWinter 2004–05: highest 2.19 m · 13 days above the normal rangeWinter 2005–06: highest 2.97 m on 12 October 2005 · 18 days above the normal rangeWinter 2006–07: highest 3.04 m on 21 July 2007 · 34 days above the normal rangeWinter 2007–08: highest 2.92 m · 34 days above the normal rangeWinter 2008–09: highest 2.70 m · 24 days above the normal rangeWinter 2009–10: highest 2.22 m · 17 days above the normal rangeWinter 2010–11: highest 2.21 m · 6 days above the normal rangeWinter 2011–12: highest 3.01 m on 24 September 2012 · 13 days above the normal rangeWinter 2012–13: highest 2.65 m · 25 days above the normal rangeWinter 2013–14: highest 2.23 m · 26 days above the normal rangeWinter 2014–15: highest 2.41 m · 13 days above the normal rangeWinter 2015–16: highest 3.09 m on 16 June 2016 · 18 days above the normal rangeWinter 2016–17: highest 2.48 m · 8 days above the normal rangeWinter 2017–18: highest 3.16 m on 27 May 2018 · 14 days above the normal rangeWinter 2018–19: highest 2.98 m on 24 September 2019 · 27 days above the normal rangeWinter 2019–20: highest 2.66 m · 23 days above the normal rangeWinter 2020–21: highest 2.88 m · 20 days above the normal rangeWinter 2021–22: highest 2.73 m · 11 days above the normal rangeWinter 2022–23: highest 2.86 m · 15 days above the normal rangeWinter 2023–24: highest 2.75 m · 35 days above the normal rangeWinter 2024–25: highest 2.71 m · 10 days above the normal rangeWinter 2025–26: highest 2.89 m · 23 days above the normal range’17–18’15–16’06–07Record 3.43 m, 1968Top of normal range
1990–912025–26
The highest days on record
  • 27 May 20183.16 m
  • 16 June 20163.09 m
  • 21 July 20073.04 m
  • 24 September 20123.01 m
  • 24 September 20192.98 m
  • 12 October 20052.97 m

The River Tame has topped its normal range on 647 days since 1990, most in the winters of 2023–24 and 2006–07. By its highest day, the winter of 2025–26 was the 9th-highest of the 35.

Environment Agency Hydrology API, Water Orton (station 4003), 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 Birmingham · 118 warnings in 20 years

The Environment Agency has 27 flood warning areas and 5 alert areas reaching into the city; warnings since the service began in 2006.

Now: no flood warnings or alerts for Birmingham (checked 7 November 2026, 12:37). Check for flooding on GOV.UK →
Warnings and alerts each year for areas in Birmingham
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 Birmingham, River Tame at Gravelly Hill, has not had a flood warning since 2006. Of the 118 warnings, 18 were for The Bourn at Bournville and 13 for Bourn Brook at Selly Oak.

2023 had the most warnings (28); 2024 the most alerts (99). The most recent warning was on 14 November 2025.

Show the 32 warning and alert areas
AreaKindSince 2006Now
The Bourn at BournvilleWarning area18None
Bourn Brook at Selly OakWarning area13None
River Tame at Water OrtonWarning area10None
River Rea at EdgbastonWarning area10None
River Rea at StirchleyWarning area10None
River Tame at HamsteadWarning area9None
River Cole at Sarehole, Hall GreenWarning area8None
River Cole at GreetWarning area6None
River Cole at Hay MillsWarning area6None
River Cole at SparkhillWarning area6None
River Tame at Witton and Salford ParkWarning area5None
River Cole at Bordesley Green EastWarning area3None
River Cole at Babbs MillWarning area3None
River Cole at StechfordWarning area3None
River Rea at Vauxhall, Saltley and NechellsWarning area3None
River Cole at ColehallWarning area3None
Perry Brook at Perry BarrWarning area2None
River Rea at Highgate, Deritend and DigbethWarning area0None
River Rea at LiffordWarning area0None
River Tame at Castle ValeWarning area0None
River Rea at CalthorpeWarning area0None
River Rea at NorthfieldWarning area0None
River Rea at Breedon CrossWarning area0None
River Rea at Kings NortonWarning area0None
River Tame at Perry BarrWarning area0None
River Tame at Gravelly HillWarning area0None
River Rea at LongbridgeWarning area0None
River Blythe in WarwickshireAlert area194None
River ColeAlert area146None
Upper TameAlert area124None
River ReaAlert area81None
Upper Tame at Sandwell ValleyAlert area30None

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 Birmingham are in radon Affected Areas, up to the 10–30% band

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).

SO9776: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9777: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9778: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9876: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9877: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9878: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9881: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9882: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9883: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9975: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9976: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9977: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSO9978: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSO9979: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9980: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9981: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9982: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9983: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9984: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO9985: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0075: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0076: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0077: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0078: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0079: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0080: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0081: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0082: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0083: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0084: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0085: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0175: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0176: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0177: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0178: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0179: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0180: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0181: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0182: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0183: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0184: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0185: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0189: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0276: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0277: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0278: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0279: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0280: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0281: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0282: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0283: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0284: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0285: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0286: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0287: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0289: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0290: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0376: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0377: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0378: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0379: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0380: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0381: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0382: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0383: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0384: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0385: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0386: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0387: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0388: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0389: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0390: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0391: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0392: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0476: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0477: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0478: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0479: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0480: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0481: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0482: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0483: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0484: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0485: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0486: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0487: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0488: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0489: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0490: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0491: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSP0492: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0493: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0494: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0577: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0578: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0579: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0580: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0581: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0582: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0583: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0584: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0585: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0586: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0587: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0588: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0589: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0590: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0591: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0592: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0593: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0594: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0678: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0679: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0680: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0681: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0682: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0683: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0684: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0685: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0686: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0687: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0688: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0689: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0690: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0691: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0692: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0693: 10–30% of homes above the action levelSP0694: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0695: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0778: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0779: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0780: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0781: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0782: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0783: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0784: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0785: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0786: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0787: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0788: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0789: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0790: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0791: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0792: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0793: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0794: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0795: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0796: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0877: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0878: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0879: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0880: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0881: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0882: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0883: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0884: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0885: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0886: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0887: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0888: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0889: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0890: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0891: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0892: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0893: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0894: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0895: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0978: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0979: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0980: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0981: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0982: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0983: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0984: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0985: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0986: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0987: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0988: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0989: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0990: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0991: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP0992: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0993: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP0994: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1079: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1080: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1081: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1082: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1083: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1084: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1085: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1086: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1087: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1088: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1089: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSP1090: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1091: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1092: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1093: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1179: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1180: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1181: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1182: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1183: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1184: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1185: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1186: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1187: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1188: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1189: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1190: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1191: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1192: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1193: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1281: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1282: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1283: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1284: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1285: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1286: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1287: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1288: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1289: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1290: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1291: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1292: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1382: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1383: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1384: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1385: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1386: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1387: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1388: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1389: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1390: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1391: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1392: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1393: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1483: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1484: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1485: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1486: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1487: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1488: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1489: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1490: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1491: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1492: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1583: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1584: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1585: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1586: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1587: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1588: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1589: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1590: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1591: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1592: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1683: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1684: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1685: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1686: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1687: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1688: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1689: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1690: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1691: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1692: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1782: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1783: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1784: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1785: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1786: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1787: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1788: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1789: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1790: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1791: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1792: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1882: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1883: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1884: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1885: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1886: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1887: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1888: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1982: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1983: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1984: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1985: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP1986: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP2082: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP2083: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP2084: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSP2085: Under 1% of homes above the action level© OpenStreetMap contributors · BGS/UKHSA
Under 1%1–3%5–10%10–30%
Share of the city’s area in each band
Under 1% of homes83%
1–3% of homes9%
5–10% of homes5%
10–30% of homes4%

18% of Birmingham’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area (1% of homes or more above the action level), and 9% in squares of 5% or more, mostly on the west side of the city.

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 Birmingham

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

Smethwick: Hazard risk ASolihull: Hazard risk COldbury: Hazard risk C−Hollywood: Hazard risk C−Pheasey: Hazard risk ADickens Heath: Hazard risk AWest Bromwich: Hazard risk B−SmethwickSolihullOldburyHollywoodPheaseyDickens HeathWest BromwichBirmingham
ABCD
TownPeopleHigh or mediumLowHazard
Birmingham1,121,3670.8%0.9%C+
Smethwick56,3430%0%A
Solihull107,7541%0.7%C
Oldbury45,1881.7%2.6%C−
Hollywood6,9441.8%1.3%C−
Pheasey9,4980%0%A
Dickens Heath4,7970%0%A
West Bromwich103,0990.2%1.1%B−

Hollywood, 5.5 miles south, has the most homes at risk around Birmingham (1.8% at high or medium). Smethwick, Pheasey and Dickens Heath have none.

Be ready

Get ready for what Birmingham 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.
  • Birmingham’s warning areas include River Tame at Witton and Salford Park and River Tame at Gravelly Hill.
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 Birmingham
  • 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 Birmingham

Does Birmingham flood?

The last flood the Environment Agency recorded inside the city was in August 2008. 0.8% 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 4.6% of homes are at high or medium risk from surface water, when heavy rain overwhelms the drains. Birmingham grades C+ for hazard risk against UK towns.

Which parts of Birmingham are at risk of flooding?

From rivers and the sea, the places the Environment Agency warns directly: The Bourn at Bournville, Bourn Brook at Selly Oak, River Tame at Water Orton and River Rea at Stirchley. Surface water can collect in low spots anywhere in the city. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s long-term flood risk service.

When did Birmingham last flood?

The recorded flood outlines inside the city run from 2007 to 2008 (2 years); the largest was in 2008. Flood warnings have been issued for parts of the city since 2006, most recently on 14 November 2025.

Is Birmingham at risk of surface water flooding?

About 2% of homes are at high risk and 2.5% at medium risk from surface water, against 0.8% 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 Birmingham?

18% of the city’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area on the BGS/UKHSA atlas, and 9% is in 1 km squares where 5% or more of homes may be above the action level. Most homes are below it; a three-month test is the only way to know.

Are there flood warnings in Birmingham now?

No flood warning or alert was in force near Birmingham at 7 November 2026, 12:37. 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.