Flood Alert Issued for Suffolk and Essex Coast from Felixstowe to Clacton

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Suffolk and Essex coastline. The alert was raised on the morning of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following forecasts of high tides, strong winds, and large waves that may lead to flooding in coastal areas.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Suffolk and Essex coast from Felixstowe to Clacton, including the Orwell and Stour estuaries. Specific locations identified as being at risk include:

• Felixstowe: Seafront area (where flood gates will be closed).
• Pin Mill: The waterfront area.
• Wherstead: The Strand under the Orwell Bridge.
• Mistley: Water may be present on the quay.

The geographic scope includes the counties of Essex and Suffolk, specifically impacting regions along the North Sea, River Orwell, and River Deben.

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors are advised to avoid coastal roads, footpaths, and carparks which may be flooded. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation as a low-pressure system across the North Sea continues to impact tide levels.

Expected Conditions

Conditions are driven by a low-pressure system resulting in North Westerly Wind Force 5. A peak water level is forecast at Harwich of 2.54 mAODN at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, which is 0.73m above standard tide tables. Higher than usual tides are expected to continue over the next few days.

Timeline

The flood alert is specifically active for the window between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The Environment Agency will provide an update on the situation by 5:00 PM today or as conditions change.