Torridge Flood Risk
In Torridge, 973 of 56,348 properties (1.7%) are in areas at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers and the sea — at least a 1 in 100 chance in any year — per Environment Agency data updated 6 July 2026; that ranks 175th of 296 local authorities in England by number.
By bandProperties in Torridge by flood-risk band
| Risk band | Chance of flooding each year | All properties | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 3.3% (1 in 30) or greater chance in any year | 639 | 423 |
| Medium | between 1% and 3.3% (1 in 100 to 1 in 30) chance in any year | 334 | 266 |
| Low | between 0.1% and 1% (1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100) chance in any year | 725 | 459 |
| Very low | less than 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance in any year | 244 | 188 |
689 of the high- or medium-risk properties are homes and 152 are non-residential. 153 postcodes in Torridge have at least one property at high or medium risk.
Postcode districtsFlood risk across Torridge
Counts are for the part of each district inside Torridge.
Recorded floodsPast floods mapped in Torridge
The Environment Agency has mapped flood outlines on 20 dates in postcode districts that mostly lie in Torridge since 1963; the most recent started on 7 Dec 2018.
1960s 4 1970s 3 1990s 2 2000s 5 2010s 6
| Started | Place / name in the record | Source of flooding | Cause | Districts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Dec 2018 | Holsworthy 8 outlines | Main river, ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 15 Jun 2016 | Rydon 6 outlines | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX21 EX22 |
| 3 Jan 2014 – 5 Jan 2014 | Bideford Tidal Flood 2 outlines | Sea | Overtopping of defences | EX39 |
| 1 Jan 2014 | Instow Tidal Flood 2 outlines | Sea | Overtopping of defences | EX39 |
| 28 Oct 2013 | Bridgerule Tamarstone | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 4 Aug 2012 – 5 Aug 2012 | Sutcombemill Flood 2 outlines | Ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 9 Jul 2008 – 10 Jul 2008 | Tamerton Bridge | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 1 Feb 2004 – 2 Feb 2004 | Bridgerule | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 12 Jan 2004 | Tamarstone 2 outlines | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX22 |
| 13 Dec 2003 | Tamarstone | Main river | Not recorded | EX22 |
| 30 Oct 2000 – 1 Nov 2000 | Event Weare Giffard 3 outlines | Ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX38 |
| 23 Oct 1998 | Tamarstone | Main river | Not recorded | EX22 |
| 30 Dec 1992 | Bideford | Sea | Overtopping of defences | EX39 |
| 1 Dec 1979 – 31 Dec 1979 | Kenwith Valley 3 outlines | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX38 EX39 |
| 2 Nov 1970 | River Torridge 3 outlines | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX21 EX38 |
| 1970-01-01 | River Waldon: Bradworthy 5 outlines | Main river, ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX19 EX22 |
| 29 Jul 1969 | — | Ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX19 |
| 4 Nov 1967 | Woodford Bridge 2 outlines | Ordinary watercourse, main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX21 EX22 |
| 18 Dec 1965 – 19 Dec 1965 | River Torride 21 outlines | Main river | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX19 EX21 EX38 EX39 |
| 19 Nov 1963 | — | Ordinary watercourse | Channel capacity exceeded (no raised defences) | EX39 |
What this page shows, and what it misses
The Environment Agency's count of properties in each postcode that sit in areas of land at very low, low, medium or high risk of flooding from rivers and the sea, allowing for flood defences and their condition, added up here by postcode district and local authority. Every property in England is counted once, so the share is of all properties in the area.
It misses: surface water (heavy rain), groundwater, sewer and reservoir flooding; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and anything about a single building. A band describes the land a property stands on, not its floor level or flood protection, so it is not a forecast for any one home. Past floods come from the EA's Recorded Flood Outlines and are placed in the postcode district whose centre is nearest (within 12 km), so a flood near a boundary can be listed under a neighbour. Older records are patchy, and a flood with no outline is not listed.
"Torridge" means the local authority area (ONS code E07000046), not only the town centre.
If you live in Torridge
- Check your own address on gov.uk; it also covers surface water.
- Sign up for free flood warnings: gov.uk/get-flood-warnings. Floodline: 0345 988 1188.
- What is in force now: flood warnings UK · river levels.
- Never walk or drive through flood water: why shallow water kills.
FAQQuestions people ask
Is Torridge at risk of flooding?
In Torridge, 973 of 56,348 properties (1.7%) are in areas at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers and the sea — at least a 1 in 100 chance in any year — per Environment Agency data updated 6 July 2026; that ranks 175th of 296 local authorities in England by number.
Which parts of Torridge have the most properties at flood risk?
Postcode district EX39 has the most: 826 properties at high or medium risk (3.0% of its properties in Torridge). The table on this page lists every district.
When did Torridge last flood?
The Environment Agency has mapped flood outlines on 20 dates in postcode districts that mostly lie in Torridge since 1963; the most recent started on 7 Dec 2018.
Does this include surface water flooding?
No. These counts cover flooding from rivers and the sea only. Surface water (heavy rain) flooding affects more properties in England; check it for one address on gov.uk's long-term flood risk service.
Flood risk counts: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea – Postcodes in Areas at Risk and Recorded Flood Outlines, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2025. All rights reserved. Some features of this information are based on digital spatial data from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, © NERC (CEH). © Crown Copyright and Database Rights 2025 OS AC0000807064. This product is produced in part from PAF® and Multiple Residence Data, the copyright in which is owned by Royal Mail Group Limited and/or Royal Mail Group plc. All rights reserved. Licence number AC0000807064.
Local authority of each postcode: Office for National Statistics postcode lookup (May 2026), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026. District centres and place names: postcodes.io (ONS/OS open data). Totals, ranks and grouping are Global Incident Tracker's own calculations; the Environment Agency does not endorse them.