Flood Alert Issued for Upper Arun Affecting Surrey and West Sussex

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the Upper Arun area. This alert indicates that flooding is possible and residents should remain prepared for potential impacts.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Upper Arun river catchment within the counties of Surrey and West Sussex. Specific locations mentioned in the advisory include Horsham, Pallingham Lock, and Wanford.

What You Should Do

Residents in Wanford are advised to consider activating any flood protection products they may have. The Environment Agency is currently operating the automatic sluice at Provender Mill to help reduce the overall flood risk. Residents should monitor local water levels and stay informed on weather updates.

Expected Conditions

Persistent rain is expected to continue through the afternoon. While only a small rise in river levels is currently anticipated, minor flood impacts are likely to affect fields and rural roads. Following the current rainfall, isolated showers are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, which should allow river levels to begin returning toward normal. However, widespread rain is forecast for Wednesday, which may cause flood risks to return. Unsettled weather is expected to persist throughout the remainder of February.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 1:08 PM on February 15, 2026. Persistent rain is forecast to continue until 5:00 PM on February 15. River levels are expected to peak and begin falling in Horsham by 4:00 AM on February 16, while levels near Pallingham Lock are not expected to peak until 8:00 PM on February 16. The Environment Agency will provide an update on this situation by 8:00 PM on February 16, 2026.