Flood Alert Issued for Finchdean, Dean Lane End, and Rowlands Castle Due to High Groundwater

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the Solent and South Downs area. The alert was officially raised at 1:54 PM on February 23, 2026, following significant cumulative rainfall.

Affected Areas

The geographic scope of this alert includes the following locations in Hampshire and West Sussex:

• Finchdean
• Dean Lane End
• Rowlands Castle

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning zone are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare and deploy property resilience measures.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in good working order and ready for use.
• Monitor local conditions closely, particularly if your property has a cellar.

Expected Conditions

Approximately 42mm of rain has fallen over the last week, causing groundwater levels to rise. While borehole levels in Finchdean are currently stable, the Idsworth and Chalton Lavants are both flowing.

Key hazards include:

• Road Flooding: Deep water is expected on roads in all affected villages.
• Property Impact: Cellar flooding is currently ongoing in Finchdean, Dean Lane End, and Rowlands Castle.
• Infrastructure: Potential impacts to the local sewerage system have been identified.
• Surface Water: Heavier rain events may trigger additional surface water flooding.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately as of February 23, 2026. A brief period of dry weather is forecast from Monday, February 23, through Wednesday, February 25. However, additional rainfall of 15mm to 25mm is expected on Thursday, February 26, and Friday, February 27, which may increase flooding impacts. The Environment Agency will provide an update on this situation by 6:00 PM on March 2, 2026, or sooner if conditions change.