Flood Alert Issued for Groundwater Flooding in Great Shefford, West Berkshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for groundwater flooding in the Great Shefford area. The alert was officially raised on March 3, 2026, at 11:41 AM following reports of high groundwater levels at the Northfield Farm borehole.

Affected Areas

This alert specifically impacts the Great Shefford area within West Berkshire, part of the Environment Agency’s Thames area. The primary concern is centered around low-lying areas and roads near the Northfield Farm monitoring site.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following actions:

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that all installed pumps are in good working order.
• Exercise caution when driving through flood water to ensure your own safety and to avoid causing flood waves that could impact others.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels are currently high but stable at the Northfield Farm borehole. However, flooding of low-lying areas and roads is possible. The Environment Agency notes that levels will remain sensitive to further rainfall over the coming days. Due to the specific nature of groundwater flooding, these conditions are expected to be prolonged.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of March 3, 2026. Officials expect groundwater levels to remain high for several weeks or potentially longer. The Environment Agency will continue to monitor rainfall and groundwater levels closely, with a scheduled update to this alert by 12:00 PM on March 10, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.