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BHazard risk Grade
Flood & hazards in Wolverhampton · Environment Agency

Heavy rain is Wolverhampton’s main flood risk: 7.5% 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. Wolverhampton’s Hazard risk Grade is B: #16 of 35 in West Midlands.

4flood warnings since 200650%in a radon Affected Area
In brief

What stands out about Wolverhampton’s hazards

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

Rain, more than the river7.5% of homes sit where heavy rain can flood the streets, against under 0.1% at risk from rivers and the sea.4 flood warnings since 2006For the parts of Wolverhampton the Environment Agency warns directly; the most recent on 14 November 2025.Radon in parts19% of the city is in 1 km squares where 5% or more of homes may be above the radon action level.
By hazard

What Wolverhampton 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 42% of towns
92 homes by the EA’s own count

Surface water

7.5%of homes at high or medium risk
More than 85% of UK towns
Rivers and sea: under 0.1%

The Smestow Brook

0.72 mhighest in winter 2025–26 at Wightwick
17th-highest of 17 winters
Record 1.33 m, February 2020

Flood warnings

4flood warnings since 2006
484 flood alerts for the wider area
Last warning 14 November 2025

Radon

50%of the city in a radon Affected Area
Highest band here: 5–10% of homes
19% 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

Wolverhampton 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 58% 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 Wolverhampton

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.

© OpenStreetMap contributors · EA NaFRA2
HighMediumLowrivers & seaHighMediumLowsurface waterWolverhampton’s built-up area

The river and sea risk follows the Sandyford Brook, the Ridings Brook and the Saredon Brook. 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

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

The Environment Agency’s national map, allowing for defences. A further 0.2% 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 10067 homes, EA count
Low risk0.2%of homes · 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000208 homes, EA count
Where Wolverhampton sits among 3,735 UK towns
35%None
23%Under 0.5%Wolverhampton
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; Wolverhampton has more than 42% of towns.

Towns its size: 6th of 50 from the fewest homes at risk
#TownPeopleHigh or med.
1Southwark London307,0760%
2Islington London216,3090%
3Camden London209,3420%
4Westminster London203,5710%
5Hammersmith and Fulham London182,187under 0.1%
6Wolverhampton West Midlands234,029under 0.1%
7Sunderland Tyne and Wear168,3230.1%
8Havering London259,4010.1%
…
49Oxford Oxfordshire170,7994.7%
50Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire270,8166.3%

UK towns of 164,000 to 328,000 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

7.5% of Wolverhampton’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 water7.5%
Rivers and the seaunder 0.1%
0%10.5%21% of homes

About 3.4% of homes are at high risk of surface-water flooding (a 1 in 30 chance or more each year) and 4.1% at medium risk: roughly 7,040 households. A further 9.9% face a low risk from surface water. That is more than 85% of UK towns.

~7,040
households at high or medium risk
9.9%
of homes at low risk
85%
of UK towns have a smaller share
120,139
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.

River levels

The Smestow Brook at Wightwick: highest 1.33 m, in February 2020

The highest level each winter (October to September) at the Environment Agency’s Wightwick gauge (Wightwick), since 2006. The river normally runs between 0.20 m and 0.41 m here.

Highest level each winter, metres
Winter 2006–07: highest 1.23 m on 15 June 2007 · 103 days above the normal rangeWinter 2007–08: highest 1.27 m on 28 July 2008 · 65 days above the normal rangeWinter 2008–09: highest 1.14 m · 76 days above the normal rangeWinter 2012–13: highest 0.85 m · 59 days above the normal rangeWinter 2013–14: highest 1.23 m on 19 July 2014 · 112 days above the normal rangeWinter 2014–15: highest 0.91 m · 93 days above the normal rangeWinter 2015–16: highest 1.29 m on 28 March 2016 · 98 days above the normal rangeWinter 2016–17: highest 0.92 m · 70 days above the normal rangeWinter 2017–18: highest 1.26 m on 27 May 2018 · 74 days above the normal rangeWinter 2018–19: highest 0.97 m · 73 days above the normal rangeWinter 2019–20: highest 1.41 m on 16 February 2020 · 86 days above the normal rangeWinter 2020–21: highest 0.79 m · 80 days above the normal rangeWinter 2021–22: highest 0.76 m · 7 days above the normal rangeWinter 2022–23: highest 0.98 m · 15 days above the normal rangeWinter 2023–24: highest 0.83 m · 15 days above the normal rangeWinter 2024–25: highest 0.79 m · 9 days above the normal rangeWinter 2025–26: highest 0.72 m · 10 days above the normal range’19–20’15–16’07–08Record 1.33 m, 2020Top of normal range
2006–072025–26
The highest days on record
  • 16 February 20201.41 m
  • 28 March 20161.29 m
  • 28 July 20081.27 m
  • 27 May 20181.26 m
  • 16 June 20201.24 m
  • 19 July 20141.23 m

The Smestow Brook has topped its normal range on 1,045 days since 2006, most in the winters of 2013–14 and 2006–07. By its highest day, the winter of 2025–26 was the 17th-highest of the 17.

Environment Agency Hydrology API, Wightwick (station 2641), 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 Wolverhampton · 4 warnings in 20 years

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

Now: no flood warnings or alerts for Wolverhampton (checked 5 November 2026, 01:19). Check for flooding on GOV.UK →
Warnings and alerts each year for areas in Wolverhampton
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)

Of the 4 warnings, 4 were for Waterhead Brook at Bushbury, Wolverhampton. 2025 had the most warnings (2); 2024 the most alerts (74).

The most recent warning was on 14 November 2025.

Show the 5 warning and alert areas
AreaKindSince 2006Now
Waterhead Brook at Bushbury, WolverhamptonWarning area4None
Smestow Brook at WightwickWarning area0None
River Sow and River PenkAlert area191None
River Stour and Smestow Brook in the Black Country and South StaffordshireAlert area169None
Upper TameAlert area124None

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 Wolverhampton are in radon Affected Areas, up to the 5–10% 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).

SO8697: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8698: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8699: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8600: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8601: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8794: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8795: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8796: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO8797: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8798: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8799: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8700: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8701: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8893: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO8894: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8895: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8896: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO8897: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8898: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8899: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8800: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8801: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8802: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8994: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO8995: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8996: 1–3% of homes above the action levelSO8997: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8998: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO8999: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8900: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8901: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8902: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8903: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ8904: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9095: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9096: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9097: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9098: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9099: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9000: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9001: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9002: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9003: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9004: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9195: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9196: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9197: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9198: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9199: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9100: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9101: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9102: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9103: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9104: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9294: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9295: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9296: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9297: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9298: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9299: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9200: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9201: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9202: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9203: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9204: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9394: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9395: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9396: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9397: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9398: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSO9399: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9300: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9301: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9302: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9303: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9304: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9494: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9497: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9498: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9499: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9400: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9401: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9402: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9403: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9404: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSO9597: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSO9598: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSO9599: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9500: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9501: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9502: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSO9697: 5–10% of homes above the action levelSJ9600: 3–5% of homes above the action levelSJ9601: Under 1% of homes above the action levelSJ9602: 3–5% of homes above the action level© OpenStreetMap contributors · BGS/UKHSA
Under 1%1–3%3–5%5–10%
Share of the city’s area in each band
Under 1% of homes51%
1–3% of homes4%
3–5% of homes27%
5–10% of homes19%

50% of Wolverhampton’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area (1% of homes or more above the action level), and 19% in squares of 5% or more, mostly on the south-east 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 Wolverhampton

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

Bilston: Hazard risk C−Perton: Hazard risk B+Willenhall: Hazard risk CCoseley: Hazard risk AEssington: Hazard risk AFeatherstone: Hazard risk ACodsall: Hazard risk B+BilstonPertonWillenhallCoseleyEssingtonFeatherstoneCodsallWolverhampton
ABCD
TownPeopleHigh or mediumLowHazard
Wolverhampton234,029under 0.1%0.2%B
Bilston34,6312%0.8%C−
Perton9,3020%0.3%B+
Willenhall49,5821.5%2.3%C
Coseley25,2060%0%A
Essington3,4710%0%A
Featherstone7,0960%0%A
Codsall11,8670%under 0.1%B+

Bilston, 2.8 miles south-east, has the most homes at risk around Wolverhampton (2% at high or medium).

Be ready

Get ready for what Wolverhampton 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.
  • Wolverhampton’s warning areas include Waterhead Brook at Bushbury, Wolverhampton and Smestow Brook at Wightwick.
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 Wolverhampton
  • 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.
  • 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 Wolverhampton

Does Wolverhampton flood?

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 7.5% of homes are at high or medium risk from surface water, when heavy rain overwhelms the drains. Wolverhampton grades B for hazard risk against UK towns.

Which parts of Wolverhampton are at risk of flooding?

From rivers and the sea, the places the Environment Agency warns directly: Waterhead Brook at Bushbury, Wolverhampton and Smestow Brook at Wightwick. Surface water can collect in low spots anywhere in the city. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s long-term flood risk service.

Is Wolverhampton at risk of surface water flooding?

About 3.4% of homes are at high risk and 4.1% 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 Wolverhampton?

50% of the city’s built-up area is in a radon Affected Area on the BGS/UKHSA atlas, and 19% 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 Wolverhampton now?

No flood warning or alert was in force near Wolverhampton at 5 November 2026, 01:19. 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 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.