Flood Alert Issued for River Yeo and Parrett in Somerset as Heavy Rain Approaches

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for the Wessex area, specifically targeting the River Yeo and River Parrett catchments. The alert was raised on February 21, 2026, following reports of high river levels and saturated ground conditions across the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the geographic region from Yeovilton to Huish Episcopi in Somerset. Specific locations at risk include:

• Low-lying land and roads near the River Yeo and River Parrett.
• The A37 south and A303 south west of Ilchester.
• The Ilchester to Limington road and the road to Ilchester Meads.
• Hainbury Mill in Ilchester.

What You Should Do

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

• Avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
• Do not put yourself or others at risk by entering flooded zones.
• Monitor local weather reports and river levels closely.

Environment Agency field teams are currently on-site clearing debris screens and checking rivers for potential blockages to mitigate the risk.

Expected Conditions

Upstream catchments are currently saturated and highly responsive to additional rainfall. While patchy rain is expected throughout Saturday, a cold front is forecast to bring widespread rain overnight. Conditions are expected to worsen on Sunday morning with persistent and occasionally heavy rain before the system clears later in the day. Monday is forecast to be brighter with only a few showers.

Timeline

The alert is currently in effect as of February 21, 2026. Heavy rain is specifically anticipated for the morning of Sunday, February 22. The Environment Agency expects to provide an update on the situation by 1:00 PM on February 22, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.