Flood Alert Issued for Middle River Mersey Catchment Including Stockport and Sale

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for the Middle River Mersey catchment. The alert was officially raised at 5:45 PM on February 21, 2026, following observations of rising river levels.

Affected Areas

The alert covers a broad geographic area including Bramhall, Stockport, Sale, Altrincham, and Urmston. Impacted counties include Cheshire East, Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Warrington. Specifically, flooding is most likely to affect low-lying land and roads around Micker, Cringle, Sinderland, and Poynton Brooks and their tributaries.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and recommends that individuals stay informed of changing conditions.

Expected Conditions

High river levels are anticipated this evening, with flooding possible starting from 10:00 PM. Further rainfall is forecast to continue throughout the evening and overnight, which may contribute to the rising water levels in the River Mersey catchment.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of 10:00 PM on February 21, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide an update on the situation by 10:00 AM on February 22, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.