Historic Flood Map is a GIS layer showing the maximum extent of all individual Recorded Flood Outlines from river, the sea and groundwater springs and shows areas of land that have previously been subject to flooding in England. Records began in 1946 when predecessor bodies to the Environment Agency started collecting detailed information about flooding incidents, although we may hold limited details about flooding incidents prior to this date. This dataset differs from the Recorded Flood Outline dataset in that it contains only those flood outlines that are 'considered and accepted' if the following criteria are met:photographic/video evidence with the location referencedrecorded flood levels with the location referencedevidence that the outline represents the time of peak water level (for example date / time stamped photo)evidence that the source of flooding is from rivers, the sea or groundwater and not surface water/overland runoff. The absence of coverage by the Historic Flood Map for an area does not mean that the area has never flooded, only that we do not currently have records of flooding in this area. It is also possible that the pattern of flooding in this area has changed and that this area would now flood under different circumstances. The Historic Flood Map will take into account of the presence of defences, structures, and other infrastructure where they existed at the time of flooding. It will include flood extents that may have been affected by overtopping, breaches or blockages. Flooding shown to the land and does not necessarily indicate that properties were flooded internally. The Historic Flood Map consists of spatial data only.
Not seeing a result you expected?
Learn how you can add new datasets to our index.
Historic Flood Map is a GIS layer showing the maximum extent of all individual Recorded Flood Outlines from river, the sea and groundwater springs and shows areas of land that have previously been subject to flooding in England. Records began in 1946 when predecessor bodies to the Environment Agency started collecting detailed information about flooding incidents, although we may hold limited details about flooding incidents prior to this date. This dataset differs from the Recorded Flood Outline dataset in that it contains only those flood outlines that are 'considered and accepted' if the following criteria are met:photographic/video evidence with the location referencedrecorded flood levels with the location referencedevidence that the outline represents the time of peak water level (for example date / time stamped photo)evidence that the source of flooding is from rivers, the sea or groundwater and not surface water/overland runoff. The absence of coverage by the Historic Flood Map for an area does not mean that the area has never flooded, only that we do not currently have records of flooding in this area. It is also possible that the pattern of flooding in this area has changed and that this area would now flood under different circumstances. The Historic Flood Map will take into account of the presence of defences, structures, and other infrastructure where they existed at the time of flooding. It will include flood extents that may have been affected by overtopping, breaches or blockages. Flooding shown to the land and does not necessarily indicate that properties were flooded internally. The Historic Flood Map consists of spatial data only.