Flood Alert Issued for Rivers Otter and Sid and Exmouth Area in Devon and Somerset

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Rivers Otter and Sid, as well as the Exmouth area. This alert was officially raised at 3:33 PM on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in response to rising river levels following a period of heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours.

Affected Areas

The alert covers geographic regions within Devon and Somerset. The primary areas of concern include:

• Lympstone
• Exmouth
• Budleigh Salterton
• Honiton
• Ottery St Mary
• Sidbury
• Sidford
• Sidmouth

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as conditions evolve.

Expected Conditions

Forecasted high river levels are expected to cause flooding to low-lying land and roads close to the river. While the rivers are expected to remain high throughout the night, the Environment Agency reports that no flooding to properties is currently forecast.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of February 18, 2026. Flooding of roads and low-lying land is expected to begin around 7:15 PM this evening, Wednesday, February 18. High river levels are anticipated to persist throughout the night. The Environment Agency plans to update this message by 4:40 PM on February 18, 2026, or as the situation changes.