Flood Alert Issued for Upper Ouse Affecting East and West Sussex

Source: Environment Agency · East Sussex and West Sussex

This alert is no longer in effect.

Environment Agency issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this Environment Agency flood warning directly from Environment Agency's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Upper Ouse, warning of rising river levels near Barcombe and potential flooding of roads and gardens through Friday.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Flood Alert
Affected area
East Sussex and West Sussex
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
Environment Agency

Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in East Sussex and West Sussex.

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Upper Ouse within the Solent and South Downs area. This alert, classified as severity level 3, indicates that flooding is possible and residents should remain prepared for changing conditions.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Upper Ouse region across East Sussex and West Sussex. Specific locations identified as at risk for minor flooding include fields and roads near:

  • Bridge Cottage on the B2028
  • Sloop Lane
  • Fletching Mill Bridge
  • Sharpsbridge
  • Anchor Lane
  • Barcombe Mills Road

Flood water is expected to be very close to the Anchor Inn and may potentially affect gardens in Barcombe Mills.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to avoid roads that are prone to flooding, specifically Barcombe Mills Road. The Environment Agency is currently operating water control structures at Pimms Lock and Barcombe to manage and reduce flood risk. Monitor local conditions as unsettled weather is expected to continue throughout February.

Expected Conditions

River levels on the Ouse are currently high. While levels near Ardingly are already falling, levels near Barcombe are still rising as of Thursday morning. Minor flooding of fields and roads is expected to persist. The weather forecast indicates only isolated showers for Thursday, Friday, and through the weekend.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on the morning of February 19, 2026. Flood water is expected to be near the Anchor Inn starting from 12:00 on February 19. River levels in Barcombe are projected to begin falling by 15:00 on February 19, with a return to near-normal levels expected by Friday evening, February 20. This message will be updated by 20:00 on February 20, 2026.

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 Upper Ouse, warning of rising river levels near Barcombe and potential flooding of roads and gardens through Friday.
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 Sussex and West Sussex. 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.