Environment Agency Issues Flood Warning for Cranborne Chase and Rockbourne in West Hampshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase area of West Hampshire. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are expected to cause flooding in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire, including the village of Rockbourne. The Environment Agency’s Wessex area office is monitoring the situation.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that any installed flood pumps are working and switched on.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power cut.
• Be prepared for the potential inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.
• Monitor cellars for signs of flooding and move valuables if necessary.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the West Woodyates borehole have been recorded at 104.52m. While levels are currently falling slowly, they remain high. The Environment Agency warns that these high groundwater levels will increase the impacts of any fluvial (river) flooding. Road flooding is expected, and properties in the area may experience flooding in cellars.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 5, 2026. Although the region has recently seen a few days of drier weather, further rainfall is forecast to begin on Thursday, which may cause groundwater levels to rise again through the weekend. This message is scheduled to be updated by 2:00 PM on March 11, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.