Flood Alert Issued for Combe Haven in East Sussex Following Heavy Rain Forecast

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (severity level 3) for the Combe Haven area within the Solent and South Downs region. The alert was officially raised at 3:24 PM on February 18, 2026, in response to a weather front bringing rain to the area.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers the Combe Haven river area in East Sussex. Key locations identified as at risk include:

• Riverside properties on Forewood Lane.
• Areas near Crowhurst Recreation Ground.
• Bexhill Road Recreation Ground and adjacent gardens.
• Properties near the Combe Haven in Bulverhythe.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to consider activating any flood protection products they may have. Specifically, the Environment Agency recommends installing flood protection products in Crowhurst. Residents should monitor local water levels and stay informed of further updates.

Expected Conditions

Rain is forecast to continue from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. While only isolated showers are expected for the remainder of the week and the weekend, river levels are expected to respond to the initial rainfall. If rainfall totals exceed the current forecast, further isolated property flooding may occur. Unsettled weather could continue throughout February, maintaining a period of flood risk.

Timeline

The flood risk is expected to evolve over the following window:

• Wednesday, Feb 18, 18:00: Flooding may begin to affect properties on Forewood Lane and near Crowhurst Recreation Ground.
• Thursday, Feb 19, 06:00: Flooding could reach Bexhill Road Recreation Ground and surrounding gardens.
• Thursday, Feb 19, 10:00: River levels in Crowhurst are expected to begin falling, returning to near-normal levels by Friday.
• Thursday, Feb 19, 18:00: River levels in Bulverhythe are expected to begin falling, though they will remain higher than normal until next week.

The Environment Agency will provide an updated message by 8:00 PM on February 19, 2026.