Flood Alert Issued for River Lavant in West Sussex as Water Levels Remain High

Source: Environment Agency · West Sussex

This alert is no longer in effect.

Environment Agency issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 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 River Lavant in West Sussex, warning of minor impacts to roads and fields following weeks of rainfall.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Flood Alert
Affected area
West Sussex
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 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in West Sussex.

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the River Lavant within the Solent and South Downs area. The alert was raised on February 26, 2026, following weeks of persistent rainfall that has kept river levels high at Graylingwell.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic focus is the River Lavant in West Sussex. Specific locations identified as being at risk for minor flooding include fields, roads, and gardens in the Graylingwell area. Potential impacts are also noted for Sheepwash Lane, Pook Lane, the Green, and various bridges across the river in East Lavant.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to avoid putting themselves or others at risk by staying away from flooded roads, specifically Sheepwash Lane. To report any river blockages, contact the Environment Agency's incident hotline at 0800 80 70 60.

Expected Conditions

While very little rain is forecast for Thursday, river levels are not expected to fall significantly. A forecast for Friday between 00:00 and 06:00 indicates 5-10mm of rain is likely, which may cause a small rise in river levels with minimal impact. However, a less likely scenario suggests up to 20mm of rain is possible, which would cause minor flooding in East Lavant. The Environment Agency is currently operating structures in Westhampnett as part of the local Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 14:26 on February 26, 2026. Officials expect to provide an updated status message by 20:00 on February 27, 2026.

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 Lavant in West Sussex, warning of minor impacts to roads and fields following weeks of rainfall.
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 "low" severity. No immediate action required, but stay aware.
What area is affected?
This alert affects West Sussex. 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.