GuideEnvironment Agency
Flood alert, flood warning or severe flood warning?
In England the Environment Agency uses three levels: a flood alert (flooding is possible), a flood warning (flooding is expected) and a severe flood warning (danger to life). From January 2006 to June 2026 it issued 46,335 alerts, 20,516 warnings and 488 severe warnings; 2024 was the busiest year.
By AreaZine · Updated · written with AI tools and checked against the agencies' records (editorial policy)
The three levels, and how many of each
| Level | What it means | Issued 2006 to June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Flood alert | Flooding is possible. Be prepared. | 46,335 |
| Flood warning | Flooding is expected. Immediate action required. | 20,516 |
| Severe flood warning | Severe flooding. Danger to life. | 488 |
Source: Environment Agency, Historic Flood Warnings (England); GOV.UK, What to do before, during and after a flood.
Alert areas and warning areas
The two lower levels are issued for different shapes on the map: a flood alert covers a wider "flood alert area", and flood warnings and severe flood warnings cover smaller "flood warning areas" where properties can be flooded. Each area has a code, and AreaZine keeps every alert and warning issued for it since 2006: look up a flood area.
When a warning ends
When the danger has passed the Agency marks the alert or warning "no longer in force". Updates to a message in force are not counted as new alerts or warnings on AreaZine.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Environment Agency covers England. Scotland (SEPA), Wales (Natural Resources Wales) and Northern Ireland (the Department for Infrastructure) issue their own flood warnings, which AreaZine does not yet record.