Flood Alert Issued for Rattlesden River and River Gipping in Suffolk

Source: Environment Agency · Suffolk, East Anglia

This alert is no longer in effect.

Environment Agency issued it on April 6, 2026, 5 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this Environment Agency flood warning directly from Environment Agency's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Rattlesden River and River Gipping, warning of potential flooding in Stowmarket, Needham Market, and surrounding areas.

30 seconds on this weather notice

Record type
Flood Alert
Affected area
Suffolk, East Anglia
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
Environment Agency

Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.

Record status: historical. It was issued 5 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Suffolk, East Anglia.

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for the Rattlesden River and River Gipping. The alert was officially raised on the afternoon of February 15, 2026, following reports of rising water levels.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the geographic region of East Anglia, specifically within the county of Suffolk. The primary areas at risk include low-lying roads and riverside areas through and including:

  • Stowmarket
  • Needham Market
  • Wetherden
  • Rattlesden
  • Combs Ford

What You Should Do

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

  • Take care when traveling near riverside areas.
  • Avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
  • Monitor local weather reports and river level updates.

Expected Conditions

River levels have been rising throughout the afternoon of February 15 as a result of recent rainfall. Flooding is possible for low-lying roads and areas adjacent to the Rattlesden River and River Gipping. The Environment Agency is actively monitoring both rainfall and river levels to assess the ongoing risk.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 4:06 PM on February 15, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide an update on the situation by 10:00 AM on February 16, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.

Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗

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Comparable nationwide notices (length or severity timing) 8

Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this Environment Agency flood warning: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.

Common Questions

What people usually ask about a notice like this one.

What is this Environment Agency flood warning about?
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Rattlesden River and River Gipping, warning of potential flooding in Stowmarket, Needham Market, and surrounding areas.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Environment Agency. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "medium" severity. Stay informed and follow agency guidance.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Suffolk, East Anglia. Check with Environment Agency for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Flood Warnings updates?
Browse the full Flood Warnings feed on Areazine at areazine.com/uk/floods/ for the latest updates from Environment Agency and other agencies.