Flood Alert Issued for West Cornwall Rivers as River Hayle Levels Rise

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the West Cornwall Rivers area. The alert was officially raised at 12:29 PM on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in response to rising river levels and saturated ground conditions.

Affected Areas

The geographic scope of this alert includes the Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly region. Specifically, the alert identifies potential impacts for the following watercourses in Cornwall:

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

Expected Conditions

River levels on the River Hayle remain high following recent heavy rain. With catchments currently saturated, rivers are expected to respond quickly to further rainfall forecast throughout the weekend. Current forecasts indicate that flooding is likely to affect low-lying land and roads close to the River Hayle. At this time, no flooding to residential or commercial properties is forecast.

What You Should Do

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

• Avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
• Monitor local conditions closely as catchments remain sensitive to additional rainfall.
• Stay tuned to official updates from the Environment Agency.

Timeline

The flood alert is effective as of Thursday, February 19, 2026, and is expected to remain in place into the weekend. The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation and will provide an update by 11:00 AM on February 20, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.