ALERTS SENT
18Every alert listed on GOV.UK, counting each area and language separately.
GOV.UK / EMERGENCY ALERTS
UK EMERGENCY ALERTS.
UK EMERGENCY ALERTS.
EVERY ALERT SENT TO PHONES.
Every emergency alert the government has sent to mobile phones in the UK, newest first: 18 since the first local trials in 2021, for storms, floods, wildfire, a wartime bomb and national tests. Each links to the alert on GOV.UK.
LATEST ALERT14 AUG 2026Wildfire risk · England and WalesSEE EVERY ALERT ↓
01 / IN NUMBERS
CHECKED 2 NOV 2026Alerts since 2021
STORMS
7Red wind warnings for Storm Darragh, Storm Éowyn and the January 2026 storm in Cornwall.
FLOODS, FIRE AND A BOMB
5Two severe floods, two wildfire alerts (English and Welsh) and a Second World War bomb in Plymouth.
TESTS
6Local trials in 2021 and national tests on 23 April 2023 and 7 September 2025.
02 / EVERY ALERT
FROM GOV.UKEvery emergency alert, newest first
| Date | Type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILDFIRE | England and Wales | Wildfire: very high risk, avoid anything that could start a fire GOV.UK ↗ | |
| WILDFIRE | Wales (Welsh-language alert) | Wildfire: the same message in Welsh GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | Cornwall | Red wind warning, winds peaking from 6pm GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | Isles of Scilly | Red wind warning, winds peaking from 4pm GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | The whole UK | National test, no action needed GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | 22 council areas in central and southern Scotland | Storm Éowyn: red wind warning from 10am on 24 January GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | Northern Ireland | Storm Éowyn: red wind warning from 7am on 24 January GOV.UK ↗ | |
| FLOOD | Caravan parks on the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar | Severe flooding (Environment Agency) GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | Cardiff | Storm Darragh: red wind warning from 3am on 7 December GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | 12 council areas in Wales | Storm Darragh: red wind warning from 3am on 7 December GOV.UK ↗ | |
| STORM | Bristol, Bath, Somerset, North Somerset, Devon and South Gloucestershire | Storm Darragh: red wind warning from 3am on 7 December GOV.UK ↗ | |
| FLOOD | River Roe and River Ive, Highbridge to Stockdalewath, Cumbria | Severe flooding (Environment Agency) GOV.UK ↗ | |
| BOMB | Plymouth | A Second World War bomb being moved through the city: cordon and evacuation GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | Wales (Welsh and English) | First national test, no action needed GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | England, Scotland and Northern Ireland | First national test, no action needed GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | Reading, Berkshire | Local trial GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | East Suffolk | Local trial GOV.UK ↗ | |
| TEST | East Suffolk | Local trial GOV.UK ↗ |
An alert written in English and in Welsh, or sent to several areas, counts once for each. Dates are when the alert was sent; storm alerts warned of winds due the next day.
What happens when an alert is sent
Who gets it. Every compatible phone and tablet on a 4G or 5G network in the area at risk. No phone number or location is needed.
What you hear. A loud siren-like sound and vibration for about 10 seconds, even on silent, and a message saying what to do.
What to do. Read the message and follow it. Stop and check before reading it if you are driving.
Turning them off. You can in your phone's settings, but the government advises keeping them on. Details are on gov.uk/alerts.
Emergency alerts: common questions
When was the last UK emergency alert?
On 14 August 2026, when a wildfire alert went to phones across England and Wales warning of a very high risk of wildfires and asking people not to do anything that could start a fire.
How many emergency alerts have been sent in the UK?
18 alerts since the first local trials in 2021: 12 about real emergencies (storms, floods, wildfire and a wartime bomb) and 6 tests, including national tests on 23 April 2023 and 7 September 2025.
Why did my phone get an emergency alert?
Alerts go to every compatible phone and tablet on a 4G or 5G network in the area at risk, so you get one if you are there, whether or not you live there. The government does not need your phone number or location to send one.
What does an emergency alert sound like?
A loud siren-like sound and vibration for about 10 seconds, even if your phone is on silent, with a message on screen saying what is happening and what to do.
Can I turn off emergency alerts?
Yes, in your phone’s settings, but the government advises keeping them on. If you rely on a hidden phone, for example because of domestic abuse, it explains how to opt out on GOV.UK.
Which storms triggered emergency alerts?
Storm Darragh in December 2024, Storm Éowyn in January 2025, and a red wind warning for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on 8 January 2026.