The Environment Agency has escalated its flood response, issuing official alerts and warnings to 73 specific areas across the United Kingdom. This urgent action comes as a rapid thaw of recent snowfall, combined with forecasted rain, raises significant concerns for localised flooding in the coming days.
Nationwide Alert as Thaw Accelerates
Following a week of severe winter weather from Storm Goretti, which brought snow, wind, and freezing temperatures to 96 areas, a sharp rise in temperatures is now the primary concern. The Met Office has warned that this "rapid thaw" across northern regions, alongside further rainfall, creates a perfect storm for floodwater accumulation.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan confirmed the risk, stating on January 12, 2026: "Combined with the rainfall, the higher temperatures, we will see some flooding due to the snow melt gradually as we go through the next few days, so that's the main concern." The breakdown of alerts shows 54 in England, seven in Scotland, and eight in Wales.
Critical Steps for Household Preparedness
Government advice is clear: households in affected regions must act now. Preparation should focus on safeguarding people, property, and possessions. Key recommendations include:
Before a flood:
- Move important documents, valuables, and sentimental items upstairs or to a high, safe location in a waterproof container.
- Prepare an emergency flood kit containing warm, waterproof clothing, a torch, drinking water, necessary medication, phone chargers or spare batteries, and items for children and babies.
- Plan to turn off water, gas, and electricity supplies if flooding is imminent.
- Use flood protection products like door guards and air brick covers if you have them.
- Move pets, vehicles, and other large valuables to safety.
During a flood:
- Closely follow official warnings and advice from the Environment Agency and emergency services.
- Avoid walking or driving through floodwater at all costs.
- Check on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours.
- Never put yourself or others in danger.
Full List of Affected Areas
The Environment Agency's alerts and warnings target rivers and regions particularly vulnerable to runoff from melting snow and rainfall. The following is the complete list of locations under flood alerts as of January 12, 2026.
England - Flood Alerts: Bourne Brook (Tamworth), Burton Trent, Chertsey Bourne, West Dorset, Hundred Foot Washes (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk), Kempsey Village, Lower/Upper River Derwent, Lower Frome and tributaries, Lower River Loddon, Lower River Soar, Lower River Wear, Lower Tame, Lower/Upper Teme, Mid/Upper Bristol Avon, Middle River Roding, Rea Brook and Cound Brook, River Amber, River Anker and River Sence, River Avon (Worcestershire), River Blythe (Warwickshire), River Cherwell (Lower Heyford to Oxford), River Churn and tributaries, River Cole, River Dee (Whitchurch to Chester), River Erewash (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire), River Foulness and Market Weighton, River Leadon, River Lugg (Leominster), River Mease, River Ray and tributaries (Shipton Lee to Islip), River Seven, River Severn (Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Worcestershire), River Sow and River Penk, River Thame, Horsenden Stream, Chalgrove Brook, River Trent (Cromwell Weir to Gainsborough, Derbyshire), River Windrush (Bourton to Newbridge), River Worfe, River Wye (Gloucestershire, Herefordshire), Severn Vyrnwy confluence, Tern and Perry, River Pant, Blackwater, Brain, River Stour (Upper, Sudbury, Stratford St Mary, Dedham), Upper Avon River Swift and Clay Coton Brook, Upper Bristol.
Scotland - Flood Alerts: Argyll and Bute, Caithness and Sutherland Central, Easter Ross and Great Glen, Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside, Wester Ross.
Wales - Flood Alerts: Upper/Lower Towy, River Dee (Lower, Llangollen to Trevaly Meadows, Bangor on Dee), River Alyn (Mold), River Wye (Powys), Vyrnwy, River Severn (Upper/Lower at Powys), Upper Towy, Lower Teifi.
England - Flood Warnings (Higher Level): South Winterbourne Valley, River Severn (Severn Ham, Tewkesbury), River Teme (Stanford Bridge).
Residents in these areas are urged to monitor the Environment Agency's website and local news for real-time updates and to enact their flood plans without delay.
