The Met Office is forecasting heavy rain for Warrington, Cheshire, starting the evening of Tuesday 10 February 2026. Authorities warn the downpour could lead to surface-water flooding and travel disruption for residents and commuters, with the heaviest rain expected to continue into the morning of Wednesday 11 February 2026 and make road conditions difficult.
The Environment Agency has warned that flooding is possible across the region and is monitoring the River Mersey and Sankey Brook closely. The Met Office forecast indicates a very high probability of heavy showers arriving in hourly bursts this evening, which increases the risk of water pooling on local roads and in gardens.
Drivers using the M6, M62 and M56 motorways should take care for surface water on the carriageway, and people living in low-lying areas such as Sankey Bridges and Howley are being advised to monitor local river/tidal levels (for example the Mersey Estuary at Warrington. The Environment Agency and local authorities advise moving vehicles to higher ground if they are parked in locations known to have flooded previously.
Since the significant flooding in January 2021 (Storm Christoph), planning and preparatory work on the Sankey Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme has progressed. That work has included surveys, vegetation clearance and some targeted local measures (for example pump-station and drainage works), and the scheme proposes new walls and embankments as part of longer-term flood defences — but major linear defences have not yet been completed. With the ground already saturated, authorities warn that intense rainfall could still overwhelm drains and cause surface-water flooding tonight.
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