How safe is your home town? UK's flooding hotspots revealed

A new report ranks areas in the UK based on their total rainfall in 2024, seeing places that are the most and least likely to flood.

Flooding continues to be a major concern across the UK. Some areas are far more at risk than others, largely due to their annual rainfall. Using data from Visual Crossing, which analysed total rainfall in 2024, Online Marketing Surgery and MG Timber have uncovered the areas most and least likely to flood.

Most Flood-Prone Areas in the UK

The ten areas with the highest rainfall in 2024 are as follows:

Exeter – 1,230mm
Swansea – 1,210mm
Glasgow – 1,182mm
Plymouth – 1,157mm
Cardiff – 1,112mm
Weston-super-Mare – 1,086mm
Newport – 1,066mm
Stoke-on-Trent – 1,066mm
Eastbourne – 1,054mm
Blackpool – 1,033mm

This list highlights how coastal and urban areas tend to face heavier rainfall, putting them at greater risk of flooding.

Areas Least Likely to Flood

At the other end of the spectrum, these ten areas recorded the lowest rainfall totals last year:

Guildford – 466mm
Southend-on-Sea – 510mm
Woking – 510mm
Reading – 607mm
Colchester – 634mm
Chelmsford – 636mm
Dundee – 642mm
Basildon – 644mm
Gillingham – 649mm
London – 664mm

Rainfall in these regions is considerably lower, reducing the likelihood of significant flooding.

How We Gathered the Data

Using information from Visual Crossing, we reviewed total rainfall across the UK during 2024. This helped us identify which areas experience the most and least rainfall, offering valuable insight into flood risks nationwide.

Whether you live in a wetter area or a drier part of the country, knowing this information can help you prepare for what’s ahead.