Portsmouth Floods: Public Information

In early April, parts of Old Portsmouth and Southsea flooded due to a combination of very high tides and storms.

As a waterfront city, Portsmouth has a long history of managing flooding. Coastal flooding is generally predictable, and this allows the City Council to plan for it and respond.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the City Council workers who acted swiftly and professionally to protect the city. Flood gates were closed and the new coastal defences performed as expected, which kept Portsmouth and Southsea safe.

We are fortunate to have brand new sea defences in Portsmouth and Southsea. £100 million of funding from central government was won for Portsmouth in 2020 thanks to hard work by council officers and Lib Dem Councillor Hugh Mason. Progress on these sea defences is still underway, but these floods have demonstrated both how the defences are effective and why they are needed.

Nevertheless, flooding can be worrying for local residents and visitors. While everyone is safe and any damage appears to be very limited, councillors wanted to share information about flooding in the city and where you can sign up for advanced warning when it's available.

Below you can find links to resources published by the City Council about flooding in Portsmouth, including planning, response strategy, and where to sign up for warnings and updates.

If you have any problems arising from flooding or any other issues with your local area, you can always contact us as your local councillors.

If there is a threat to life or a serious threat to property, dial 999.

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