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Flood alert issued for Rochdale and Bury as heavy rain continues across Greater Manchester

Monday, 15 December 2025 09:22

By David Murphy

Credit: Environment Agency

Residents warned to be prepared as river levels rise in wake of persistent rainfall.

A flood alert has been issued for parts of Rochdale and Bury as continuous rainfall causes river levels to surge across Greater Manchester.

The Environment Agency has placed the Upper River Irwell catchment on alert, with areas in Rochdale, Bolton, Oldham and Bury identified as at risk. The alert covers the Rivers Beal, Roch and Croal, as well as Limey Water and their tributaries.

Communities in Heywood, Whitworth and Bacup are among those advised to be on standby. The Environment Agency confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely after heavy overnight rain, and further downpours are forecast throughout the day.

Residents in the affected areas are being urged to check for updates, review any existing flood plans and prepare in case conditions worsen. The Environment Agency warned that rising river levels may lead to localised flooding.

A yellow weather warning from the Met Office remains in place for the whole of Greater Manchester, with between 40mm and 60mm of rain expected widely by the end of the day. Some areas of higher ground could see totals reaching up to 100mm.

The region saw persistent rainfall over the weekend, and no significant let-up is forecast for the week ahead. The Met Office has also issued warnings for other parts of the UK, including amber alerts in Cumbria and yellow warnings in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Jonathan Day, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said teams are working on the ground to reduce the impact of flooding and support affected communities.

“Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible in parts of the North of England today,” he said. “We urge people not to drive through flood water. Just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float a car.”

People can check their risk by visiting the ‘check my flood risk’ service online or following updates from the Environment Agency on social media.

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