Flood Alert Issued for Cranborne Chase Area Across Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the Cranborne Chase area within the Wessex region. This alert was officially raised on February 16, 2026, due to high groundwater levels that currently exceed flood alert thresholds.

Affected Areas

The alert covers a broad geographic region including:

• Counties: Dorset Council, Hampshire, and Wiltshire.
• Specific Locations: The Iwerne and Pimperne Brook areas are identified as being at the highest risk.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and review property resilience measures.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in good working order.
• Monitor local weather reports and water levels, especially if living near the Iwerne or Pimperne Brook.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Cranborne Chase are currently falling at a slow rate but remain high enough to cause flooding of fields and roads. While the start of the week is expected to be brighter and drier, further rainfall is forecast starting Wednesday. Because groundwater is already near the surface, any intense rainfall may lead to immediate surface water flooding. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation as levels could react quickly to new precipitation.

Timeline

• Alert Issued: February 16, 2026, at 10:52 AM.
• Short-term Forecast: Drier conditions through Tuesday; rainfall returning Wednesday.
• Next Update: The Environment Agency expects to provide an update by 11:00 AM on February 23, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.