Flood Alert Issued for River Lox Affecting Surrey and West Sussex

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for the River Lox area within the Solent and South Downs region. This alert follows a forecast of rain moving through the area from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.

Affected Areas

The alert covers geographic regions in both Surrey and West Sussex. Specific locations at risk include:

• Loxley Bridge on Wrotham Hill
• Dunsfold
• Petworth Road, Chiddingfold
• Brewhurst Mill on Brewhurst Lane
• The Onslow Arms, Loxwood

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to consider activating any available flood protection products. Those responsible for private water control structures at Brewhurst should continue to operate them as necessary. Monitor local conditions and prepare for potential travel disruptions due to flooded roads.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is expected to impact fields, roads, and gardens. While the primary threat is to outdoor areas, isolated property flooding remains a possibility if rainfall totals exceed current forecasts. Following the initial rain, only isolated showers are expected for the remainder of the week and through the weekend.

Timeline

The flood risk is expected to escalate in stages:

• Wednesday, Feb 18, 23:00: Minor flooding may begin affecting Loxley Bridge, Dunsfold, and Petworth Road.
• Thursday, Feb 19, 06:00: Flooding may reach gardens near Brewhurst Mill and the Onslow Arms.
• Thursday Evening: River levels are forecast to begin falling, with a continued slow decline through Friday and the weekend.

The Environment Agency will provide an update on this situation by 20:00 on February 19, 2026.