Flood Alert Issued for Rivers Pant, Blackwater, and Brain in Essex

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Rivers Pant, Blackwater, and Brain (ID: 051WAFEF5). The alert was officially raised at 8:38 AM on February 16, 2026, due to rising river levels following recent rainfall.

Affected Areas

The alert covers geographic regions within Essex in East Anglia. Areas most at risk include low-lying land and riverside areas along the Blackwater from Radwinter to Langford, including:

• Great Sampford
• Bridge End
• Finchingfield
• Bocking
• Bradwell
• Coggeshall
• Kelvedon

Additionally, the alert covers areas along the River Brain, specifically:

• Braintree
• Black Notley
• White Notley
• Witham

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. The Environment Agency continues to monitor rainfall and river levels as the situation develops.

Expected Conditions

River levels are rising in response to recent rainfall. Flooding of low-lying land and riverside areas is possible starting from the morning of February 16, 2026.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of the morning of February 16, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide an update by 5:00 PM on February 16, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.