Flood Alert Issued for Lower River Wear in County Durham and Sunderland

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the Lower River Wear. The alert was raised on the evening of March 12, 2026, due to rising river levels that may lead to flooding in the North East region.

Affected Areas

The geographic scope of this alert includes the Lower River Wear within County Durham and Sunderland. Specific watercourses identified in the alert include:

• River Wear
• Moors Burn
• Smallhope Burn

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following precautions:

• Take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
• Monitor local conditions closely as river levels are expected to remain high.
• Stay informed via official updates from the Environment Agency.

Expected Conditions

Rising river levels are anticipated throughout the night. The primary hazard involves the potential flooding of low-lying land and roads situated near the rivers. The Environment Agency is currently monitoring the situation as water levels are expected to stay elevated overnight.

Timeline

The alert was officially issued at 6:44 PM on March 12, 2026. Flooding is considered possible starting the evening of March 12 and is expected to persist overnight. This message is scheduled to be updated by 10:00 AM on March 13, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.