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Environment Agency013WAFUIGtr Mancs Mersey and Ches

Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall: flood history since 2006

The Environment Agency has issued 68 flood alerts for Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall since 2 Jul 2006, most often in December; the busiest year was 2012 (11).

Flood alerts only

The flood area

Flood area
Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall
Code
013WAFUI
Environment Agency area
Gtr Mancs Mersey and Ches
County
Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Bury, Lancashire, Oldham, Rochdale
River or sea
River Irwell
First in the history
2 Jul 2006
Latest in the history file
14 Dec 2025
Current status
check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk (the Environment Agency's live page)

Flood alert, flood warning, severe flood warning: what each means

Source: Environment Agency, Historic Flood Warnings (England); Environment Agency flood-monitoring API. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

How many alerts and warnings a year?

2012 was the busiest year for Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall
510152011: 120112012: 1120122013: 420132014: 220142015: 820152016: 220162017: 420172019: 720192020: 820202021: 520212022: 120222023: 520232024: 620242025: 42025510152011: 120112012: 1120122013: 420132014: 220142015: 820152016: 220162017: 420172019: 720192020: 820202021: 520212022: 120222023: 520232024: 620242025: 42025510152011: 120112012: 112013: 42014: 220142015: 82016: 220162017: 42019: 72020: 820202021: 52022: 120222023: 52024: 62025: 42025510152011: 120112012: 112013: 42014: 220142015: 82016: 220162017: 42019: 72020: 820202021: 52022: 120222023: 52024: 62025: 42025

Flood alerts, flood warnings and severe flood warnings (updates not counted), by year. 2026 runs to the end of June.

The numbers
YearAlertsWarningsSevere
2025400
2024600
2023500
2022100
2021500
2020800
2019700
2017400
2016200
2015800
2014200
2013400
20121100
2011100

Source: Environment Agency, Historic Flood Warnings (England); Environment Agency flood-monitoring API. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

When in the year?

Most often in December
51015Jan: 7JanFeb: 7FebMar: 5MarApr: 1AprMay: 0MayJun: 2JunJul: 3JulAug: 6AugSep: 5SepOct: 9OctNov: 8NovDec: 15Dec1551015Jan: 7JanFeb: 7FebMar: 5MarApr: 1AprMay: 0MayJun: 2JunJul: 3JulAug: 6AugSep: 5SepOct: 9OctNov: 8NovDec: 15Dec1551015Jan: 7JanFeb: 7FebMar: 5MarApr: 1AprMay: 0MayJun: 2JunJul: 3JulAug: 6AugSep: 5SepOct: 9OctNov: 8NovDec: 15Dec1551015Jan: 7JFeb: 7FMar: 5MApr: 1AMay: 0MJun: 2JJul: 3JAug: 6ASep: 5SOct: 9ONov: 8NDec: 15D15

All alerts and warnings since 2006 by month.

Source: Environment Agency, Historic Flood Warnings (England); Environment Agency flood-monitoring API. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Before July 2026: the latest in the history file

DateLevel
14 Dec 2025Flood alert
8 Dec 2025Flood alert
3 Oct 2025Flood alert
20 Sep 2025Flood alert
31 Dec 2024Flood alert
5 Dec 2024Flood alert
23 Nov 2024Flood alert
30 Sep 2024Flood alert
4 Apr 2024Flood alert
1 Jan 2024Flood alert
26 Dec 2023Flood alert
9 Dec 2023Flood alert

Source: Environment Agency, Historic Flood Warnings (England); Environment Agency flood-monitoring API. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.