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

Source: Environment Agency · East Anglia

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The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert for the Suffolk and Essex coast, including the Orwell and Stour estuaries, with possible flooding between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026.

What this Environment Agency flood warning tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by Environment Agency on April 20, 2026 and geographically references East Anglia. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Flood Warnings — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly Environment Agency detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized Environment Agency flood warning is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, Flood Alert, East Anglia) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Flood Alert in East Anglia

Residents in the affected areas should remain vigilant as a Flood Alert has been issued due to high tides.

Alert Details

The alert is a Flood Alert issued by the Environment Agency. It is effective for the time window when flooding is possible between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Suffolk and Essex coast from Felixstowe to Clacton, including the Orwell and Stour estuaries. The counties affected are Essex and Suffolk, with specific mentions of areas like the River Orwell and River Deben, and the North Sea.

What You Should Do

Avoid coastal roads, footpaths, and car parks which may be flooded. The flood gates at Felixstowe seafront will be closed, and areas such as the waterfront at Pin Mill, The Strand at Wherstead under the Orwell Bridge, and the quay at Mistley may experience flooding.

Expected Conditions

High tides are expected, with a peak level at Harwich of 2.52m AODN at 1:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026, which is 0.38m above tide tables. Wind conditions include Force 5, North Westerly.

Timeline

Flooding is possible between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026. No further high tides are expected over the coming days. This message will be updated by 11:00 a.m. on April 19, 2026, or as the situation changes.

Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗

All Flood Warnings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Environment Agency flood warning.

What is this Environment Agency flood warning about?
The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert for the Suffolk and Essex coast, including the Orwell and Stour estuaries, with possible flooding between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Environment Agency. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "medium" severity. Stay informed and follow agency guidance.
What area is affected?
This alert affects East Anglia. Check with Environment Agency for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Flood Warnings updates?
Browse the full Flood Warnings feed on Areazine at areazine.com/uk/floods/ for the latest updates from Environment Agency and other agencies.