Storm Claudia's rain has seen flood alerts in the Walsworth part of Hitchin - site of more serious flooding in 2024 - with residents reporting rising water levels.

Residents can check their flood risk, sign up for warnings, and access advice on preparing for floods via the Environment Agency's online tools and helplines.

Residents across North Hertfordshire are being reminded of what a UK flood alert actually signals, as the Environment Agency continues to update communities during the autumn and winter weather season.

A flood alert is the first level of warning and means that flooding is possible — not that it is happening — and that people in at-risk areas should begin preparing. The alerts are issued as a precaution when forecasts show that flood conditions may develop.

Typically, flood alerts are sent out between 2 and 12 hours before flooding is expected, giving households and businesses vital time to take simple steps such as moving valuables upstairs, checking flood plans, and keeping an eye on local updates. They are generally issued during waking hours to ensure residents can act quickly.

With parts of Hitchin and the wider district home to rivers and flood-prone low-lying areas, the Environment Agency says these early alerts are an important prompt for anyone living near waterways or in known risk zones.

Residents can check their flood risk, sign up for warnings, and access advice on preparing for floods via the Environment Agency's online tools and helplines.