Search the data

UK Tide Gauge Network

UK Coastal Flood Forecasting (UKCFF) partners
UK Coastal Flood Forecasting (UKCFF) partners ©

The UK National Tide Gauge Network was set up as a result of severe flooding along the east coast of England in 1953.

It forms part of the UK Coastal Flood Forecasting (UKCFF) service. UKCFF is a partnership formed by the Environment Agency (EA), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Department for Agriculture and Rivers Agency Northern Ireland (RANI) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Through the partnership the authorities commission and deliver the capabilities in monitoring and forecasting of coastal conditions that underpin coastal flood forecasting and flood risk modelling throughout the UK.

The network includes 43 gauges as illustrated in the map below, most of which are related through the national levelling network to Ordnance Datum Newlyn. The whole network is owned by the Environment Agency who operates the network on behalf of the UKCFF partners. Data are collected, processed and archived centrally to provide long time series (please see the individual tide gauge data availability) of reliable and accurate sea levels.

BODC has a special responsibility for the remote monitoring and retrieval of sea level data from the network. Daily checks are kept on the performance of the gauges and the data are downloaded weekly. These are then routinely processed and quality controlled prior to being made available for scientific use.

Data availability

BODC make quality-controlled NTSLF data series available online as soon as they are processed. We aim to have each month's data files online four weeks from the end of the month.

National Tidal & Sea Level Facility (NTSLF)

The UK Tide Gauge Network forms part of the National Tidal & Sea Level Facility (NTSLF) which is hosted by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and is a consortium consisting of

  • NOC science groups
  • British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC)
  • UK Tide Gauge Inspectorate
  • NOC Applications Group
  • Environment Agency
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra)
  • British Isles GPS archive Facility (BIGF)

Monthly and annual values of sea level are held by the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) and can be obtained from their web pages. Tidal predictions and tide tables are handled by the NOC Applications Group. Visit their web pages for further information.

Map of tide gauge sites

Individual tide gauge data availability

Data availability

Tide gaugeData availability
Aberdeen 1930-36, 1946-58, 1960-62, 1964-65, 1967-75,1980 onwards
Avonmouth 1961-62, 1972-76, 1979-84, 1986 onwards
Bangor 1994 onwards
Barmouth 1987, 1991 onwards
Bournemouth 1996 onwards
Cromer 1973-74, 1976, 1982, 1988 onwards
Devonport 1987, 1991 onwards
Dover 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1934-36, 1938,1958 onwards
Felixstowe 1982, 1984, 1986-2012
Fishguard 1963-71, 1973 onwards
Harwich 2004 onwards
Heysham 1964-69, 1971 onwards
Hinkley 1990 onwards
Holyhead 1964-73, 1977-85, 1987-91, 1995 onwards
Ilfracombe 1968-71, 1977 onwards
Immingham 1953, 1956-58, 1963 onwards
Jersey 1992 onwards
Kinlochbervie 1991 onwards
Leith 1981, 1989 onwards
Lerwick 1959-78, 1980 onwards
Liverpool - Princes Pier 1927, 1963-1983, 1986
Liverpool - Gladstone Dock 1991 onwards
Llandudno 1971, 1994 onwards
Lowestoft 1964 onwards
Milford Haven 1953-54, 1961-62, 1964-65, 1967 onwards
Millport 1978, 1981-83, 1985 onwards
Moray Firth 1994-2004
Mumbles 1989-93, 1997 onwards
Newhaven 1982-87, 1991 onwards
Newlyn 1915 onwards
Newport 1993 onwards
North Shields 1946-47, 1949-56, 1961, 1965-75, 1978 onwards
Portbury 2008 onwards
Port Ellen, Islay 1979-80, 1991 onwards
Port Erin, Isle of Man 1992-95, 1998 onwards
Portpatrick 1968 onwards
Portrush 1995 onwards
Portsmouth 1991 onwards
Sheerness 1952, 1958, 1965-75, 1980 onwards
Stornoway 1976, 1978-81, 1983, 1985 onwards
St. Mary's 1994 onwards
Tobermory 1990 onwards
Ullapool 1966-68, 1970-72, 1974-80, 1981, 1983,1985 onwards
Weymouth 1989, 1991 onwards
Whitby 1980 onwards
Wick 1965-70, 1972 onwards
Workington 1992 onwards
National Oceanography Centre      Environment Agency