Flood Alert Issued for Cuckmere River in East Sussex Affecting Hellingly and Alfriston

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Cuckmere River within the Solent and South Downs area. This alert was raised on the morning of February 19, 2026, following high river levels that are currently impacting local communities.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers the Cuckmere River catchment in East Sussex. Key areas of concern include:

• Hellingly: Gardens on Hammer Lane, Grove Hill, and Mill Lane. Conditions remain close to properties on Station Road, Church Lane, and Church Road.
• Alfriston: Potential impacts to North Street, The Old Clergy House, and properties on River Lane.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

• Avoid using roads prone to flooding, specifically Mill Lane and Church Road in Hellingly, and North Street in Alfriston.
• Do not put yourself or others at risk by entering floodwaters.
• Monitor local weather reports as unsettled weather is expected to continue throughout February.

Expected Conditions

While river levels have begun to fall in Hellingly, they continue to rise in Alfriston as of Thursday morning. Flooding is expected to affect gardens and may potentially reach properties in Alfriston starting from 11:00 on February 19. Only isolated showers are forecast for the remainder of Thursday, Friday, and the upcoming weekend.

Timeline

• Effective Date: February 19, 2026
• Hellingly Status: Levels are currently falling.
• Alfriston Status: Levels are expected to begin falling by 15:00 on February 19.
• Duration: River levels are projected to continue falling through Friday and should return to near-normal levels by Saturday, February 21.
• Next Update: The Environment Agency will provide an update by 20:00 on February 20, 2026.