Parts of Ipswich are today bracing themselves after a severe flood warning was issued.

The Environment Agency has this morning issued the warning, expected to affect the Waterfront part of Ipswich tonight as the River Orwell experiences tidal surges.

The forecast for the tidal surge said it will hit Ipswich Quay at 1am tomorrow. The forecast tide level is expected to reach jut over 12ft.

Gale force six winds are also expected.

Severe flood warnings have been issued for large areas of East Anglia as high tides and strong winds threaten to swamp the coastline.

The Environment Agency has issued 35 alerts for the region, warning of severe flooding and danger to life, while around 1,000 homes and businesses in the region are preparing for evacuation today.

It comes as forecasters predict winds speeds to total 50mph today in the region.

By 3.30pm, a total of 35 severe flood warnings (severe flooding, danger to life), 63 flood warnings (flooding is expected, immediate action required) and 18 flood alerts (flooding is possible, be prepared) had been issued for East Anglia by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency and Met Office have issued a ‘Red Alert’ warning to residents along the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coast, particularly between Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk and Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, that severe flooding is forecast from 7pm tonight, through the night and in to tomorrow.

Today, the high tide is expected to reach Kings Lynn, in Norfolk, by 7pm, moving on to Great Yarmouth by 10.30pm and Lowestoft by 10.45pm. It is expected to progress south down the coastline through the evening.

Meanwhile, The Suffolk Resilience Forum is today working through plans for the following areas:

Tidal Orwell, Ipswich

Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey Quay

Isolated riverside properties on the Deben Estuary

Felixstowe Ferry Hamlet and the Deben Marshes

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The Environment Secretary is currently chairing a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the response to the storm, David Cameron said.

In a message on Twitter the Prime Minister said: “I’ve asked Environment Secretary Owen Paterson to chair a Cobra this morning on the storm disruption - ensuring everything is being done.”