Dorset and Wiltshire Groundwater Incident Response 2026


Map of the UK with colour scale of rainfall averages.It has been the wettest January for a lot of catchments across Dorset and Wiltshire, with the Middle Stour recording the wettest January since records began in 1891. Following heavy rain from Storm Chandra (26th to 27th Jan 2026), groundwater levels rose sharply across the Dorset and Wiltshire area, causing flooding to homes, businesses and roads networks. These levels are as high, and in some places higher, than the 2013/2014 levels that caused widespread flooding. We are also seeing groundwater impacts for communities that we have not seen before.

Whilst there are Groundwater Flood Warnings in force across Wessex, we will have this page live for additional information and guidance. To find out more about groundwater flooding and how it occurs, take a look at these videos: What is Groundwater?; Groundwater Animation

Further unsettled weather is forecast throughout February which may cause levels to rise further. You can find the latest Flood Warnings here: www.gov.uk/check-flooding


What can you do to help / stay safe?

Staying Safe

To ensure your safety, do not walk or drive through flood water. Whilst groundwater flooding is often crystal clear, flood water may be deeper than it looks and could contain sewage and hidden hazards.

It is essential that you know what to do in the event of flooding occurring. All our guidance can be found on our Government website pages linked here:

You can check the latest river, groundwater and rainfall levels here: Find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels - GOV.UK

Sign up for flood warnings: Get flood warnings by text, phone or email - GOV.UK


Report and Record

We encourage you to report any property flooding as soon as you can. Reporting helps organisations coordinate support and prioritise response. You can do this by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or directly to your Lead Local Flood Authority.

Once affected residents are able, we ask that they please submit a full report to floodreport.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/. This tool is available for residents across Wessex (the service is hosted by Dorset Council but is available for other local authority areas). The information provided is then shared with the risk management authorities to ensure it goes to the correct organisation depending on the source and impact of flooding. If the portal opens on the wrong FORT region, don't worry, you will be redirected when you identify a property affected. Submitting a report on FORT will not trigger an emergency response

High groundwater levels can also affect sewage systems, causing backups and overflows, if you are experiencing these problems we would encourage you to report this to Wessex Water: https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/report-a-problem


Find out more

We have included some useful links for you in our information bar. This is the grey section on the right-hand side if you are viewing this page on a large screen, or at the bottom of the page if you are viewing on a mobile.

How are we responding?

What actions can you take?

Advice on pumping


Register and Subscribe

Please register, using the link in the information bar, to use the tools on this page.

You can also subscribe to add this page to the projects you follow, and to be added to our mailing list.

Registering your details, and subscribing to this page, are two separate actions. Complete both to make the most of this page.



Map of the UK with colour scale of rainfall averages.It has been the wettest January for a lot of catchments across Dorset and Wiltshire, with the Middle Stour recording the wettest January since records began in 1891. Following heavy rain from Storm Chandra (26th to 27th Jan 2026), groundwater levels rose sharply across the Dorset and Wiltshire area, causing flooding to homes, businesses and roads networks. These levels are as high, and in some places higher, than the 2013/2014 levels that caused widespread flooding. We are also seeing groundwater impacts for communities that we have not seen before.

Whilst there are Groundwater Flood Warnings in force across Wessex, we will have this page live for additional information and guidance. To find out more about groundwater flooding and how it occurs, take a look at these videos: What is Groundwater?; Groundwater Animation

Further unsettled weather is forecast throughout February which may cause levels to rise further. You can find the latest Flood Warnings here: www.gov.uk/check-flooding


What can you do to help / stay safe?

Staying Safe

To ensure your safety, do not walk or drive through flood water. Whilst groundwater flooding is often crystal clear, flood water may be deeper than it looks and could contain sewage and hidden hazards.

It is essential that you know what to do in the event of flooding occurring. All our guidance can be found on our Government website pages linked here:

You can check the latest river, groundwater and rainfall levels here: Find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels - GOV.UK

Sign up for flood warnings: Get flood warnings by text, phone or email - GOV.UK


Report and Record

We encourage you to report any property flooding as soon as you can. Reporting helps organisations coordinate support and prioritise response. You can do this by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or directly to your Lead Local Flood Authority.

Once affected residents are able, we ask that they please submit a full report to floodreport.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/. This tool is available for residents across Wessex (the service is hosted by Dorset Council but is available for other local authority areas). The information provided is then shared with the risk management authorities to ensure it goes to the correct organisation depending on the source and impact of flooding. If the portal opens on the wrong FORT region, don't worry, you will be redirected when you identify a property affected. Submitting a report on FORT will not trigger an emergency response

High groundwater levels can also affect sewage systems, causing backups and overflows, if you are experiencing these problems we would encourage you to report this to Wessex Water: https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/report-a-problem


Find out more

We have included some useful links for you in our information bar. This is the grey section on the right-hand side if you are viewing this page on a large screen, or at the bottom of the page if you are viewing on a mobile.

How are we responding?

What actions can you take?

Advice on pumping


Register and Subscribe

Please register, using the link in the information bar, to use the tools on this page.

You can also subscribe to add this page to the projects you follow, and to be added to our mailing list.

Registering your details, and subscribing to this page, are two separate actions. Complete both to make the most of this page.


  • Latest update - 18 Feb 2026

    supporting image

    Current Situation

    With yellow MET office rainfall warning for Wednesday 18 February, the groundwater and rivers will continue to respond quickly to any prolonged or intense periods of rainfall; this may result in further localised flooding impacts.

    We are continuing to monitor 24/7 the groundwater levels, river and rainfall. 

    Groundwater levels in the more reactive area of the West of Dorset remain high but are forecast to plateau this week. In the Cranborne Chase area, levels are forecast to plateau this week, whereas in the Salisbury Plain area groundwater levels are forecast to continue rising until the end of February. With an unsettled period expected there is the potential that further localised impacts to rainfall could be expected to continue until May.  

    Some of the communities we have visited have never experienced flooding of the extent and nature before, please check your overall flood risk here https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk and you can find the latest information here: www.gov.uk/check-flooding

    What have we been doing?

    Our staff have been out on the ground talking to affected residents over the last three weeks. We are very grateful to residents who have taken the time to speak with us, many of whom have been flooded. This information helps us understand groundwater flooding and helps to inform our flood warning timeliness and co-ordinate a response with our partners. But we will be scaling back this over the next few weeks, depending on the weather that occurs.

    What you can do?

    Please continue to report flooding especially if you are pumping to stop the flooding to your property. Groundwater flooding can be reported using the FORT (Flood Online Reporting Tool) https://floodreport.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ (available to residents in both Dorset & Wiltshire) tool or directly to your Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).

    You can confirm on FORT how your property is affected where groundwater is rising. For example, under your floorboards, in your basement, affecting your foul drainage, road and bow waves or just affecting your access to your property. Please use the further comments for more details including pumping arrangements.

    Further details on who and how to report can be found here: Report a flood or possible cause of flooding - GOV.UK

    You can also report to the Environment Agency online if there are blockage on a main river, these can also be reported here: Report a blockage in a river in England - GOV.UK

    Remember

    Groundwater flood warnings are an opt-in service; please check your flood risk and sign up for flood warnings here www.gov.uk/get-flood-warnings

  • Latest update - 11 Feb 2026

    Current Situation

    At the time of writing there are 34 of the 35 groundwater flood warnings in force across the Dorset and Wiltshire area. We have seen further rainfall that has caused groundwater levels to rise further. High groundwater levels are also increasing the flood risk from rivers due to additional base flow, and several fluvial (river) flood warnings are active across the area. This briefing provides an update on the current flood risk, where groundwater flooding is happening and information and guidance on flood warnings.

    Further unsettled weather is forecast throughout February which may cause levels to rise further. You can find the latest information here: www.gov.uk/check-flooding


    Site Specific Information

    Salisbury

    In the Salisbury Plain area, groundwater levels are rising and are likely to continue to rise for the next few weeks. Several locations—Chilmark, Teffont, and the Dene—are expected to peak this week, with Alerts in place until the end of March.

    Salisbury City Centre is also experiencing high groundwater levels, and we anticipate flooding.

    Levels in the slow reacting areas of the Till and Bourne are rising and this is having an influence on the Hampshire Avon, where river levels are high and still rising. We are working closely with our partners including Wiltshire Council, and we are out in communities who have been affected by groundwater flooding.


    West Dorset

    We expect levels in the West Dorset area to continue to rise this week before peaking late this week or early next week. Properties in this area are being affected, either by property flooding or are pumping water away from their property to try and reduce flood risk. Roads, including main roads like the A35, where traffic lights are in place outside of Winterborne Abbas, are also being flooded.


    Cranborne Chase

    In Cranborne Chase, levels are high and are expected to continue to rise into next week, well above flood warning levels. Areas with properties affected range from Pimperne to Milborne St Andrew, and all the other groundwater influenced areas in between. Several roads in the Cranborne Chase area are closed and will likely remain closed for some time.

    Areas such as Tollard Royal and Sixpenny Handley are seeing impacts to sewage systems and water running down roads.

Page last updated: 18 Feb 2026, 11:26 AM