Flood Alert Issued for West Cornwall Rivers as Heavy Rain Forecasts Threaten Low-Lying Areas

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the West Cornwall Rivers area. This alert was raised on the afternoon of February 17, 2026, following forecasts of heavy rainfall and high river levels.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly region, specifically focusing on the following watercourses in Cornwall:

• River Hayle
• Perrancoombe Stream
• Bolingey Stream
• Portreath Stream
• Newlyn Coombe River

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
• Monitor local weather reports and river levels.
• Stay away from low-lying land and roads near the River Hayle.

Expected Conditions

Heavy rain is forecast overnight, and because catchments are already saturated, rivers are expected to respond quickly. Forecast levels indicate that flooding is possible for low-lying land and roads close to the River Hayle starting late Tuesday evening. At this time, no flooding to residential or commercial properties is forecast.

Timeline

The alert is effective from the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and is expected to remain in place until Thursday, February 19, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update by 4:00 PM on February 18, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.