2025 United Kingdom floods

In 2025, the United Kingdom experienced flooding. In early January, severe rainfall caused widespread floods across North West England and the East Midlands.

January

North West (1 January)

Around 90 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall in 24 hours brought floods to parts of England and Wales on New Year's Day, prompting the Met Office to issue severe weather warnings; this led to 137 flood warnings being issued by the Environment Agency (EA) across England, Scotland and Wales, with extensive flooding affecting parts of North West England, especially Greater Manchester. A major incident was declared by Greater Manchester Police in response to flooding across Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan, as well as parts of Cheshire and Lancashire.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported that they had attended over 100 incidents and evacuated almost 1,000 people as a result of the floods: 400 from flats at Meadow Mill in Stockport after they lost electricity and water supplies; 445 from a hotel in Didsbury after power and water supplies were cut off; around 50 other properties in Didsbury; and some evacuations in Platt Bridge. City centre canals overflowed and the River Tame and River Mersey reached record highs in places; the latter meant sluice gates had to be opened at Fletcher Moss Park where a car was submerged. Around 100 people attending a New Year's Eve event were stranded in Harpurhey. Floods also occured in Cheadle, where a tributary of the Mersey flooded roads and homes, and Broadbottom, where a wall collapsed onto cars and homes were flooded. Three people were rescued from a car submerged in floodwater in Warrington.

Flooding also occured in Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Yorkshire. Part of the Bridgewater Canal's embankment collapsed near Little Bollington, causing water to pour out and inundate surrounding fields; Cheshire Police had to evacuate properties, a sewage treatment works was flooded and part of the M56 motorway was closed between Manchester Airport and Bowdon. The Sankey Canal in St Helens burst its banks, submerging cars and houses in Haydock in several feet of water. Flooding also occured in Lymm, where three people were rescued from a car, Ormskirk, where homes were flooded, and Ribchester, where a brook burst its banks and flooded houses. The M57 motorway was closed between Kirkby to Aintree due to flooding. The River Ure burst its banks near Wensley, North Yorkshire, flooding the A684 road and surrounding fields.

Numerous train lines were blocked by floodwater leading to cancellations across the North West. Trains did not operate between Manchester and Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street, or from both Liverpool and Manchester to Huddersfield, Leeds and York. The line between Manchester Piccadilly and Warrington Central was blocked, as was the line between Todmorden and Rochdale.

South East (5-6 January)

On 5 January, flooding affected areas of South East England, namely Sussex, as the region was hit by heavy rain; flood warnings were issued for parts of the Adur, Bull, Cuckmere and Ouse rivers. Areas affected by floods included Barcombe, Hellingly, Isfield and Littlehampton. A number of rail services were affected, with floods hitting Frant railway station and the line between Arundel and Billingshurst.

Flooding continued into the next day as a yellow rain warning covered the region, with further flood warnings issued by the EA. Fields near Barcombe Mills were inundated by floodwater from the River Ouse; there was disruption on the A29 road at Pulborough as floods affected gardens and properties in the town.

East Midlands (6 January)

Further severe rainfall on 6 January led to floods across the East Midlands, with the EA issuing over 177 flood warnings. A major incident was declared by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in response, with floods affecting Leicestershire and Rutland. This was followed by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF), who coordinate emergency services in the county, declaring a major incident in Lincolnshire soon after.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said that they had received over 200 calls and 56 people had been rescued from flooded homes or stranded vehicles. Leicestershire Police reported that the worst hit areas were Melton Mowbray, Rutland and South Leicestershire, however many other settlements were also affected by floods. In Lincolnshire, the LRF said that a further 16 people had been rescued from flooded properties in Billingborough, with Lincolnshire Police saying that the south of the county was most impacted. Furthermore, 16 major roads around the county were closed, including part of the A1 and A15.