dataset · England
Real-time Rainfall Data
This record is for Approval for Access product AfA501 for approximately 1000 automatic rainfall data from the Environment Agency rainfall API. The data is available on an update cycle which varies across the country, typically updated daily but updated faster is rainfall is detected. This is update frequency is usually increased during times of flooding, etc. Readings are transferred via telemetry to internal and external systems in or close to real-time. Measurement of the rainfall is taken in
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Licence: ["There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.", "There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the
Evidence quality: 58.9
Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- rainfall 15-minute accumulation (mm), raw gauge data from Environment Agency gauges · continuous rainfall archive (Wiski) on request, non real-time
- Coverage docs-verified
- England
- Resolution docs-verified
- 15-minute accumulated rainfall (mm), point gauge network
- Update frequency docs-verified
- typically daily; faster when rainfall is detected, usually increased during flooding
- Access docs-verified
- free/open, no public access constraints; Open Government Licence
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Drainage strategy rainfall inputs from nearest 15-minute gauge series · Flood event review: rainfall context for recent storms using near real-time data · FRA or flood model rainfall checks, noting raw data must be QC'd before final use
- Audience llm-inferred
- flood consultants · drainage engineers · hydrologists
Limitations
- Constraints docs-verified
- raw data subject to quality control; values may change after publication · recorded in GMT, so during BST data may appear an hour old · England only · continuous archive available on request, not real-time · only a small selection of Met Office gauges in the open feed
Evidence
- http://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/doc/rainfall
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/e70328b3-1a75-458e-8402-9ab3ce15aae1/real-time-rainfall-data
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.