2023 United Kingdom floods

In 2023, the United Kingdom experienced flooding.

On 14 January, the Met Office issued 98 flood warnings and 169 alerts across England.^[1] The River Ouse broke its banks, causing severe flooding in York which left parts of the city centre submerged,^[2] with rescue workers seen travelling down the street in boats.^[1] The River Severn also broke its banks in some areas, causing flooding in Shrewsbury.^[1][3] A mother and her six-month-old baby were saved from a flood near Nynehead, Somerset which left their car stuck.^[4] In Devon, the River Exe burst its banks between the villages of Oakfordbridge and Exebridge,^[5] which also affected Bickleigh.^[6] The Great Western Railway faced delays, with two train lines blocked between Bristol Parkway and Swindon, and the line between Bristol Temple Meads, Bath and Swindon.^[7] The line between Totnes and Plymouth was also blocked.^[8]

On 16 January, severe flooding affected East Sussex after heavy rain overnight. In Hastings, the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre had to be closed after it was severely flooded, as well as the surrounding area.^[9] Many roads around in the town closed, as well as parts of many A roads being closed or affected.^[10] Other flooded areas included East Lavant, Ashburnham, Shripney, Sedlescombe, Westham and Alfriston. In Polegate, large pumping trucks were called out to deal with surface water which had formed on roads throughout the town.^[11] Seven "take action now" flood warnings were issued in Sussex.^[12] In Dorset, an industrial estate in Woolsbridge was flooded,^[13] and a road was blocked by floodwater in Burton.^[14] On 18 January, a major incident was declared in Somerset by the Environment Agency due to flooding risks.^[15] On 24 January, the major incident in Somerset came to an end.^[16]

On 19 January, part of the A303 in Wiltshire was closed due to flooding.^[15]

On 23 March, roads flooded near Sea Mills railway station in Bristol.^[17]

On 9 May, a major incident was declared in Somerset following flash flooding in the Galhampton, North Cadbury and South Cadbury areas following heavy rain.^[18] Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service evacuated homes that were flooded.^[19] Frome saw roads flooded.^[20]

On 19 May, flash flooding closed roads in Weymouth following a thunderstorm.^[21]

On 12 June 2023, heavy rain and thunderstorms caused flooding in Golders Green in north west London.^[22] Watford Junction station was shut causing disruption.^[23] In Staffordshire, the A50 road was shut after a flash flood in the Meir tunnel.^[24] A Morrisons supermarket in Stamford, Lincolnshire was evacuated when water started pouring in and part of the ceiling collapsed.^[25] St Amand's Catholic Primary School in Wantage was shut because of flooding.^[26] At Luton and Dunstable University Hospital there was a “localised flooding issue” in the building.^[27] Met Office warnings were given on 16 June for weekend floods.^[28]

On 20 June, heavy rain and thunderstorms which received a severe weather warning from the Met Office hit England's south coast, causing flash floods. In Brighton, many people's homes were flooded, as well as businesses including a Waitrose shop and a Wetherspoons pub. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were called out to 18 flood related incidents in the area, and a woman reportedly broke her ankle after falling on a flooded footpath near Preston Park railway station.^[29]

On 9 July, flooding hit Flintshire and Wrexham Borough in North Wales.^[30] North Wales Police advised motorists to avoid the coast road in Flintshire from Connah's Quay to Greenfield.^[31] There were also flood warnings across Sheffield, for Bagley Dike in Grimsthorpe, Meers Brook at Heeley and tributaries in north Derbyshire and Pontefract.^[32] Roads in Birmingham were also flooded.^[33]

On 27 August, an elderly couple drowned after driving their car into floodwater in Mossley Hill, Liverpool.^[34][35]

On 18 September, there was localised flooding in some areas.^[36] The worst affected area was the West Country in Southern England.^[37] Flash floods ripped through the village of Kenton in Devon.^[38] Exeter Airport was closed temporarily when the terminal was flooded.^[39] A flood alert was made for coastal areas in East Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.^[40] Butlin's Minehead was closed after flooding in Somerset.^[41] A Wetherspoons pub in Taunton was flooded.^[42] On 27 September 2023, Storm Agnes hit the UK with strong winds and heavy rain, which brought flooding in parts of the UK and Ireland.

On 7 October 2023, exceptionally heavy rain hit Scotland causing flooding in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirlingshire, and other areas.^[43] On 19 October 2023, Storm Babet hit Scotland with strong winds and heavy rain, with most parts of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross 250 millimetres (9.8 in) of rain was predicted to fall in these areas from 19-20 October 2023, causing a red warning for rain in these areas too.^[44] The South Yorkshire village of Catcliffe was flooded, despite new flood defences which were installed after the floods of 2007.^[45] Flooding caused by Storm Babet killed three people.^[46] A flood in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire caused over £46,000 worth of damage at Notts Gymnastics Academy.^[47]

In late October, Britain was hit by further flooding and heavy rain.^[48] The Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings was evacuated after floods.^[49] The Ship Inn at Cockwood in Devon collapsed after heavy rain.^[50] Localised floods in Lanchester, County Durham caused homes to be evacuated.^[51] A man was swept out to sea at Burnham-on-Sea.^[52] In Dorset, businesses in Sherborne were damaged by flash floods.^[53] A woman in her car was rescued after her car became stuck in a ford at nearby Chetnole.^[54] Flash floods also affected the Isle of Wight.^[55] In Cornwall, the town of Mevagissey, Fowey, Looe and Polperro were affected by floods.^[56]

Wintery conditions in early December resulted in 50 flood warnings across the UK.^[57] In Dorset, the River Frome flooded in the village of Stratton near Dorchester.^[58] The warnings spanned along the Jurassic Coast from Bridport to Chideock and Charmouth and also Dorchester, Maiden Newton and Beaminster.^[59] In Somerset, roads were flooded.^[60] The A358 road near Ilminster became unpassable in both directions.^[61] In Worcestershire, floods closed several county roads.^[62] The Barbourne Brook in Worcester was at risk of floods.^[63]