Flood Alert Issued for South Devon Coast from Start Point to Dawlish Warren

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the South Devon coast. This alert indicates that flooding is possible and residents should remain prepared for changing conditions.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the South Devon coast stretching from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, within the counties of Devon and Torbay. Specific areas identified as being particularly at risk include:

• Torbay
• Teignmouth
• Beesands
• Torcross
• Slapton
• Dawlish

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors are advised to avoid coastal roads, footpaths, and carparks, as these areas may become flooded. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and recommends staying informed of further updates as conditions evolve.

Expected Conditions

The alert is driven by a combination of high tides, strong force 6 easterly winds, and large offshore waves. Forecasts indicate offshore wave heights of over 2.3 meters. At Exmouth, the high tide on Wednesday morning is forecast to reach 2.24mAOD, which is 0.27 meters above the standard tide table level. Times of high water will vary along the coast.

Timeline

The alert is specifically focused on the morning of Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Flooding is possible up to three hours either side of the high tide, which occurs at Exmouth at 07:30 AM. Coastal conditions are expected to ease by Wednesday evening’s high tide. The Environment Agency will provide an update by 4:00 PM on February 18, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.