Environment Agency
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Changes to our flood warning service

The Environment Agency are making changes to their flood warning service. The changes will make their service easier to understand and help you respond in a flood.

They will make these changes on 30 November 2010 - but if there is a risk of flooding at this time they may need to postpone to a slightly later date.


Flood symbols and messages

They are changing their flood symbols and updating their warning messages so they are easier to understand, provide more local information and give clearer guidance about what people need to do.  

  • Flood alert - this replaces their current flood watch.  A flood alert will indicate that flooding is possible and that you need to be prepared.
  • Flood warning - will indicate that flooding is expected and that you should take immediate action.  You should take action when a flood warning is issued and not wait for a severe flood warning.
  • Severe flood warning - will tell people that there is severe flooding and danger to life.  These will be issued only when flooding is posing significant risk to life or disruption to communities.

                    Flood alertFlood warningSevere flood warning

Floodline Warnings Direct

If you are registered for their free flood warning service - Floodline Warnings Direct - you will receive flood warnings and severe flood warnings, plus messages to tell you when these warnings are no longer in force.  Customers who are currently registered for flood watch messages will receive their new flood alert messages from the date theymake changes to the service.  You can check and update your flood warning registration details online or by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

Local information specific to your area

In their warning messages and on their website there will be local information specific to your area, such as the time when flooding is expected, tide heights and what locations will be affected.  These will be updated at least every eight hours.


Online flood forecast

They will put a three-day flood forecast for England and Wales on their website.  This will show, county by county, where there is a risk of flooding over the next three days.  The three-day forecast will be updated every day.


Flood Warning updates

You will be able to take information from their web pages showing the number of national and regional flood warnings in force.  These pages are updated every 15 minutes on their website.  Using features such as "Google Reader" you can create automatic updates to display on your own computer or website.


River and sea level information

You can now see river or sea levels on our website.  This information will show you what's happening to water levels in your area.

Facing the Future...find out more