Flood Alert Issued for Rivers Esk and Irthing in Cumbria and Northumberland

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Rivers Esk and Irthing. The alert was officially raised at 4:37 PM on March 12, 2026, following observations of rising river levels that may lead to flooding.

Affected Areas

The geographic scope of this alert includes the Cumbria and Lancashire area, specifically impacting the counties of Cumberland, Northumberland, and Westmorland and Furness. Locations most affected will be low-lying land and roads on the Rivers Esk and Irthing and other associated watercourses. This includes low-lying areas around Longtown and Brampton.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take care and avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and recommends that the public remain vigilant as conditions evolve.

Expected Conditions

A current band of rain is expected to clear to the south by this evening. Tonight will see variable cloud cover with patchy rain arriving in the early hours, which is expected to fall as wintry precipitation on higher ground. The region will remain windy throughout this period.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of March 12, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide an update by 8:00 AM on March 13, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes significantly.