Flood Alert Issued for River Devon and Smite in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

Source: Environment Agency · East Midlands

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The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Devon and Smite areas, warning of rising water levels and potential road closures through Monday morning.

What this Environment Agency flood warning tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by Environment Agency on February 17, 2026 and geographically references East Midlands. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Flood Warnings — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly Environment Agency detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized Environment Agency flood warning is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, FloodAlert, EastMidlands) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Alert Details

Alert Type: Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) Issued By: Environment Agency Effective Date: February 15, 2026

Affected Areas

The alert covers the East Midlands region, specifically impacting parts of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Key areas identified include:

  • River Smite: Low-lying agricultural land and roads along the river. Specific concern is noted for Church Gate and Bunnison Lane in Colston Bassett.
  • River Devon: Areas around Easthorpe, Bottesford, Belvoir Lane, and the Woolsthorpe to Belvoir road in Woolsthorpe.
  • Muston: Church Lane and Main Street.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. Roads in Colston Bassett may become impassable due to potentially dangerous depths of water. Residents should monitor local conditions and stay prepared for changing water levels.

Expected Conditions

River levels are rising rapidly this evening, particularly at the Colston Bassett Gauge. Rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours, which may exacerbate the situation. The Environment Agency is currently monitoring rainfall and river levels across the catchment area.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 5:44 PM on February 15, 2026. Officials expect to provide an update by 9:00 AM on February 16, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes significantly.

Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗

All Flood Warnings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Environment Agency flood warning.

What is this Environment Agency flood warning about?
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Devon and Smite areas, warning of rising water levels and potential road closures through Monday morning.
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 East Midlands. 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.