Flood Alert Issued for Mersey Estuary at Warrington Due to High Tides

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Mersey Estuary at Warrington. This alert indicates that flooding is possible due to high tides occurring this afternoon, Friday, February 20, 2026. The agency is currently monitoring the situation closely as water levels are expected to rise.

Affected Areas

The alert covers regions within Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire, specifically impacting the counties of Halton and Warrington. Specific locations identified as most at risk include:

• Fiddlers Ferry: Low-lying land and roads, with water levels expected to peak at 2:15 PM.
• Eastford Road: Expected peak at 2:30 PM.
• Arpley Bridge: Expected peak at 2:45 PM.
• Arpley Road: River levels may specifically affect the area under the railway bridge.

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Avoid using low-lying footpaths near the estuary.
• Stay away from any bridges located near local watercourses.
• Monitor local weather reports and stay informed on updates from the Environment Agency.

Expected Conditions

High tides are expected to lead to the flooding of low-lying land and roads. While the Environment Agency does not anticipate the high tide in the early hours of Saturday, February 21, to meet the flood alert threshold, tides are expected to remain higher than normal over the next 24 hours. Consequently, further flood alerts or warnings may be issued.

Timeline

The flood alert is effective starting at 1:30 PM on Friday, February 20, 2026. Peak impacts are forecast to occur between 2:15 PM and 2:45 PM today. The Environment Agency plans to provide an update by 5:00 PM on February 20, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.