Somerset Flooding 2026

Somerset had the second wettest January on record with more than double the average rainfall. A third of this rain fell during Storm Chandra, which saw around 1.2 million cubic metres of water per hour moving though the Parrett and Tone catchments. Most of this water spilled into the floodplain of the Levels and Moors. 

Wet weather continued into February, which had almost double the average rainfall by mid-month. Across the county, there have been widespread impacts from flooding.

Somerset Council declared a major incident on 27 January, with the support of the Environment Agency and Local Resilience Partners. You can read more via this link: Somerset Council Newsroom. Although the major incident has since been stepped down, the Environment Agency continues to respond.

While pumping operations are active on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and while we are undertaking flood recovery activities, we will have this page live for updates, additional information and guidance. The latest updates can be found in the newsfeed at the bottom of this page.

How is the Environment Agency responding to the flooding?

We’ve brought people and equipment from around the country to Somerset to help with the flood response. We have:

Aerial photo showing temporary pumps installed next to Northmoor Pumping StationAdditional temporary pumps installed alongside Northmoor Pumping Station
  • Deployed additional pumps to 19 locations. This includes 28 ultra-high volume pumps as well as a large number of smaller pumps.
  • Reprofiled banks to allow more water to flow into the rivers.  
  • Removed channel restrictions and constructed temporary bypass channels.  
  • Operated the Parrett Flood Relief Channel (Sowy/King's Sedgemoor Drain) with greater flows than in previous floods.
  • Had extra staff on the ground 24 hours a day checking the flood assets and maximising the use of pumps.
  • Run community drop-ins, sent out regular briefings, and responded to a huge volume of enquiries.

2860 properties have been protected by flood defences maintained and operated by risk management authorities, and the deployment of pumps has prevented many homes and businesses from flooding. As of mid-February, we have received reports of approximately 90 properties flooded across the whole of Somerset, around 20 of which are located in the low-lying Levels and Moors.

Find out more

You can read more about how we manage flood risk on the Somerset Levels and Moors on these pages:

The Somerset Levels and Moors

Our response to Storm Chandra

Investment & Maintenance

You can also see this guide for more information: How the Somerset Moors work.

What can you do?

To ensure your safety, do not walk or drive through flood water. Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

It is essential that you know what to do in the event of flooding occurring. All our guidance can be found on our Government website pages linked here: What to do before or during a flood - GOV.UK.

You can check the latest river and rainfall levels here: Find river, sea and rainfall levels - GOV.UK

Sign up for flood warnings via this link: Get flood warnings by text, phone or email - GOV.UK or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (Textphone 0345 602 6340). This is a free service and information is updated regularly, so you can check conditions near you.

You can view historic records online at this link: Hydrology Data Explorer. You can view our webcams and community gauges online via the Community Flood Hub at this link: Wessex Webcams.

If you have been affected by flooding

Find guidance about recovery on the Gov.uk webpages: What to do after a flood - GOV.UK.

We encourage you to report any property flooding as soon as you can. Reporting helps organisations coordinate support and prioritise response. You can do this by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or by contacting Somerset Council: Contact us.

For non-emergency reporting, submit a full report on the Flood Online Reporting Tool via this link: FORT. This information is shared with risk management authorities to ensure it goes to the correct organisation.

Somerset had the second wettest January on record with more than double the average rainfall. A third of this rain fell during Storm Chandra, which saw around 1.2 million cubic metres of water per hour moving though the Parrett and Tone catchments. Most of this water spilled into the floodplain of the Levels and Moors. 

Wet weather continued into February, which had almost double the average rainfall by mid-month. Across the county, there have been widespread impacts from flooding.

Somerset Council declared a major incident on 27 January, with the support of the Environment Agency and Local Resilience Partners. You can read more via this link: Somerset Council Newsroom. Although the major incident has since been stepped down, the Environment Agency continues to respond.

While pumping operations are active on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and while we are undertaking flood recovery activities, we will have this page live for updates, additional information and guidance. The latest updates can be found in the newsfeed at the bottom of this page.

How is the Environment Agency responding to the flooding?

We’ve brought people and equipment from around the country to Somerset to help with the flood response. We have:

Aerial photo showing temporary pumps installed next to Northmoor Pumping StationAdditional temporary pumps installed alongside Northmoor Pumping Station
  • Deployed additional pumps to 19 locations. This includes 28 ultra-high volume pumps as well as a large number of smaller pumps.
  • Reprofiled banks to allow more water to flow into the rivers.  
  • Removed channel restrictions and constructed temporary bypass channels.  
  • Operated the Parrett Flood Relief Channel (Sowy/King's Sedgemoor Drain) with greater flows than in previous floods.
  • Had extra staff on the ground 24 hours a day checking the flood assets and maximising the use of pumps.
  • Run community drop-ins, sent out regular briefings, and responded to a huge volume of enquiries.

2860 properties have been protected by flood defences maintained and operated by risk management authorities, and the deployment of pumps has prevented many homes and businesses from flooding. As of mid-February, we have received reports of approximately 90 properties flooded across the whole of Somerset, around 20 of which are located in the low-lying Levels and Moors.

Find out more

You can read more about how we manage flood risk on the Somerset Levels and Moors on these pages:

The Somerset Levels and Moors

Our response to Storm Chandra

Investment & Maintenance

You can also see this guide for more information: How the Somerset Moors work.

What can you do?

To ensure your safety, do not walk or drive through flood water. Flood water may be deeper than it looks and contain sewage and hidden hazards.

It is essential that you know what to do in the event of flooding occurring. All our guidance can be found on our Government website pages linked here: What to do before or during a flood - GOV.UK.

You can check the latest river and rainfall levels here: Find river, sea and rainfall levels - GOV.UK

Sign up for flood warnings via this link: Get flood warnings by text, phone or email - GOV.UK or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (Textphone 0345 602 6340). This is a free service and information is updated regularly, so you can check conditions near you.

You can view historic records online at this link: Hydrology Data Explorer. You can view our webcams and community gauges online via the Community Flood Hub at this link: Wessex Webcams.

If you have been affected by flooding

Find guidance about recovery on the Gov.uk webpages: What to do after a flood - GOV.UK.

We encourage you to report any property flooding as soon as you can. Reporting helps organisations coordinate support and prioritise response. You can do this by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or by contacting Somerset Council: Contact us.

For non-emergency reporting, submit a full report on the Flood Online Reporting Tool via this link: FORT. This information is shared with risk management authorities to ensure it goes to the correct organisation.

  • Road Closure Update 20th March 2026

    Pump demobilisation continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors as water levels continue to recede.

    Road closure dates and times have been confirmed for West Yeo Road for the removal of pumps at Saltmoor Pumping Station:
    Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March, 9am – 5pm

    In addition, there is likely to be a footpath closure at Huish Episcopi Pumping station, affecting footpath number L13/6 from its junction with footpath L21/50, heading in a north westerly direction for approximately 160 metres, on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March.


    Temporary pumps at Currymoor and Northmoor will remain in situ for the moment, with demobilisation likely in the coming weeks. We will provide updates if there are any operations that may affect access for local residents.

  • Environment Agency Briefing 13 March 2026

    Following a significant pumping operation and recent drier weather, floodwater continues to recede and the situation continues to improve on the Somerset Levels and Moors. There are no longer any Flood Warnings in place in Somerset, although three Flood Alerts remain in force: Flood alerts and warnings - GOV.UK


    The majority of extra pumps deployed throughout the event are no longer needed, and we are now removing pumps that are not being used. Extra pumps are still operating at Huish Episcopi pumping station, but at the majority of pumping stations across the moors, water levels in the drains are now at normal winter levels, and there is no longer enough water for extra pumps to run.


    Standing water will remain on many of the fields until it works its way through the network of rhynes to the pumping stations, or in many cases where there is no gravity drainage, until the water soaks back into the ground.


    We will begin demobilising pumps at Westonzoyland, Westover, Midelney and Dunball in the coming days, and the pumps at Elson’s Clyce will be removed on Tuesday 17 March. The extra pumps at Saltmoor are expected to be removed week commencing 23 March.


    The following roads will be closed for pump removal:


    Confirmed - Tuesday 17 March, 9am – 5pm: Huntworth Lane, near the Thatchers Arms, for the removal of pumps at Elson’s Clyce.


    There will be a road closure at West Yeo Road for the removal of pumps at Saltmoor Pumping Station the following week. We will issue a further update to confirm road closure dates, but this is likely to be Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March.


    The forecast is for showers today and drier weather tomorrow, with no significant rainfall totals expected.


    Following this winter’s floods, many members of the public have questions, and we are attending a number of public meetings where we will be speaking about recent flood events. This includes Somerset Council Local Community Network meetings with Parish and Town Council representatives, and the Somerset Rivers Authority board meeting on 20 March, with a segment set aside for public questions.


    There will be a multi-agency drop-in for residents affected by flooding in Bathpool in Taunton, on Thursday 30 April from 3pm - 6.30pm at Brittons Ash Community Hall.


    If you have queries that you’d like to ask the local team, email WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.


    Staff remain on duty 24 hours a day, monitoring assets and operations, forecasts and water levels.

  • Environment Agency Briefing 27 February 2026

    Current situation

    2 Flood Warnings remain in place at Currymoor and Haymoor; and Yeo and Parrett Moors, low lying properties around Muchelney. We have removed the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge Flood Warning today.

    There are also 4 Flood Alerts in place across the Levels and Moors.

    Cutts Road and New Road remain closed. Athelney spillway has stopped running and the A361 is open.

    Drain levels in Currymoor, the Muchelney and Thorney moors upstream of Langport, and moors adjacent to the Parrett and Sowy (e.g. West Sedgemoor, Aller Moor) remain high but are reducing.

    Friday will remain largely dry before a further spell of localised heavy rain moves into the southwest overnight. The longer-term forecast remains unsettled, and our flood warning duty officers continue to monitor the situation, closely linked in with the Flood Forecasting Centre at the Met Office.

    Water levels across the Levels and Moors are falling. Station pumps continue to operate supported by temporary pump installations. Temporary pumps at Hook bridge are pumping directly from Haymoor into the River Tone to reduce levels in Haymoor and Currymoor. Oath lock sluice has been raised to allow free flow of the Parrett. Monksleaze Clyce remains open, diverting the River Parrett flow into the Parrett Flood Relief Channel (Sowy) before discharging through the King’s Sedgemoor Drain. Temporary pumps remain in place at Dunball to operate during high tide when water cannot gravitate into the River Parrett through Dunball Sluice. Pumping at all stations continues. Some temporary pumps have been switched off due to insufficient water to operate

    We will begin demobilising temporary pumps from the Bridgwater Docks and at Fordgate over the next few days as the overall situation continues to improve.

    Keeping you informed

    To broaden our engagement, we have set up a webpage dedicated to the Somerset 2026 flooding. The latest situation updates will be posted here along with previous multi agency briefings, practical information and useful contacts. The page also provides links to more general information about flooding on the Levels and Moors, our response to Storm Chandra and details on investment since 2014.

    We continue to provide updates via our local Facebook Page find us at 'Environment Agency - South and South West

  • Multi-agency briefing 20 February 2026

    Local Resilience Forum partners including the Environment Agency and Somerset Council have been publishing regular briefings since the flooding began. These are hosted on the Somerset Council website. For the latest briefing follow this link:
    Major incident and flood response update: 20 February 2026

Page last updated: 20 Mar 2026, 01:07 PM