2007 UK Floods: Which Rivers Peaked, Which Areas Flooded And What The Gauges Recorded
The summer 2007 floods in England flooded 55,000 homes and killed 13 people, according to the Environment Agency. Heavy rain in June and July hit Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and the Environment Agency's best estimate of the economic cost is £3.2 billion.
What Happened During The 2007 Floods?
Exceptionally heavy rain in June and July 2007 caused widespread flooding across England. The Environment Agency's cost study says the number of properties flooded was higher than ever before, and describes the result as follows: "The disruption, economic loss and social distress that resulted turned the summer 2007 floods into a national catastrophe."
The headline figures:
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homes flooded and deaths | In all, 55,000 homes flooded and 13 people lost their lives | Environment Agency |
| Hull, June 2007 | In June 2007, more than 7,000 properties flooded in Hull | Environment Agency |
| Worst-affected areas | South and East Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire | Environment Agency cost study |
| Economic cost | between £2.5 billion and £3.8 billion, with a best estimate of £3.2 billion | Environment Agency cost study |
| Insured share | most (76 per cent) of households' costs were covered by insurance | Environment Agency cost study |
The Environment Agency's cost study also found that almost a quarter of individual householders were not insured or were under-insured.
Which Rivers Reached Their Highest Recorded Levels?
In July 2007, the River Severn rose to the highest recorded level flooding around 70 properties in Upton upon Severn, according to the Environment Agency. The table below lists gauges whose highest recorded level dates from the 2007 floods.
Current levels at each gauge are on river levels.
Which Areas Were Worst Affected?
The worst-affected areas were South and East Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. In June, more than 7,000 properties flooded in Hull; in July, the River Severn reached its highest recorded level at Upton upon Severn, flooding around 70 properties there.
How Many Flood Warnings Were Issued?
No verified count of flood warnings for summer 2007 is given here. The Environment Agency's Historic Flood Warnings dataset lists every warning since 26 January 2006, so the count can be calculated from that record.
How Does The 2007 Flood Compare With Previous Floods?
The 2007 floods are the most expensive UK flood event in the Environment Agency's published cost studies, with a best estimate of £3.2 billion. Later winters caused large but lower estimated damages.
| Event | Best estimate of economic damages | Range | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2007 | £3.2 billion | £2.5–3.8 billion | England |
| Winter 2015 to 2016 | £1.6 billion | £1.3–1.9 billion | England |
| Winter 2013 to 2014 | £1,300 million | £1,000–1,500 million | England and Wales |
Each study uses its own method and price base, so the figures are not strictly comparable.
The full timeline is in the worst floods in UK history.
What Is The Flood Risk In The Affected Areas Now?
Flood risk in the areas flooded in 2007 is shown today by each place's flood risk band, which counts defences built since. The Environment Agency reported in 2017 that it had built new flood defences, including refurbishing the Hull Tidal Barrier.
- Check an address: check the flood risk of any UK postcode.
- Warnings now: live flood warnings.
- Why defended areas can be Low risk: why a Flood Zone 3 house can be Low risk.
floodriskchecker.co.uk is an independent website. It is not run by, or affiliated with, the Environment Agency, Defra, SEPA, Natural Resources Wales or any government body.
Sources (Verified 17 Sep 2026)
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| 55,000 homes and 13 deaths; Hull 7,000; Severn at Upton; Hull Tidal Barrier | Environment Agency blog, Ten years on from the summer floods of 2007 (31 Jul 2017) |
| Areas; national catastrophe; £3.2bn (£2.5–3.8bn); 76% insured; under-insured quarter | Environment Agency, The costs of the summer 2007 floods in England |
| Winter 2013 to 2014 costs | Environment Agency, The costs and impacts of the winter 2013 to 2014 floods |
| Winter 2015 to 2016 costs | Environment Agency, The costs of the winter 2015 to 2016 floods (summary) |
| Historic warnings dataset since 2006 | Historic Flood Warnings |