On 25 March 2026, the Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the Windrush area near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as unsettled weather continues to affect the region. While the overall flood risk for the next five days is currently very low, officials are monitoring the area closely after an exceptionally wet start to the year.
Across England, the Environment Agency currently has five flood warnings in place where flooding is expected. There are also 42 flood alerts where flooding is possible, though 11 warnings were removed in the last 24 hours as conditions changed.
The Met Office reports that south-west England has received 184 per cent of its usual rainfall so far this year. Cheltenham is currently seeing cold weather and showers with wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour, and heavy rain is forecast for Friday.
The River Chelt flows through the town centre and can experience sudden flash flooding due to its steep path from the Cotswold hills. Flooding from water rising from the ground is also a risk across the south of England, as this can last for weeks and cause more damage to properties than river water.
The government is investing 10.5 billion pounds into flood protection until 2036 to help nearly 900,000 homes and businesses. Locally, Cheltenham Borough Council works with volunteer flood wardens to monitor river levels and water drains across the community.
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