Flood Alert Issued for Patcham and Withdean Due to Rising Groundwater

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the Patcham area. This alert was raised on February 23, 2026, following observations of high groundwater levels in the region.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic focus of this alert is Patcham and Withdean within the county of Brighton and Hove. Specific locations identified as being at risk based on previous flooding events include:

• Old London Road, Patcham
• Peacock Lane, Withdean
• Areas surrounding the Ladies Mile borehole

What You Should Do

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

• Ensure that any basement water pumps are in good working order and ready for use.
• Monitor local weather reports and updates from the Environment Agency.
• Be prepared for the possibility of water entering basements or low-lying properties.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the Ladies Mile borehole are currently high and close to the surface, though they are slowly falling. While only isolated showers are forecast from Monday through Wednesday (February 25), a weather front is expected to bring widespread rainfall on Thursday, February 26. This is likely to cause groundwater levels to rise again starting Friday, February 27. Officials note that levels are not expected to rise significantly higher than previous peaks recorded this winter.

Timeline

The alert is currently active. While groundwater is expected to fall slightly over the next few days, a secondary rise is predicted to begin on Friday, February 27, and may continue through the following week. Groundwater flood impacts could persist until the middle of March. The Environment Agency is currently liaising with the Brighton and Hove City Council and will provide an updated message by 18:00 on February 27, 2026.