Flood Alert Issued for Groundwater Flooding in West Dorset

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for groundwater flooding in the West of Dorset. This alert, categorized as severity level 3, was raised on February 23, 2026, as groundwater levels remain above flood alert thresholds despite a recent plateauing of levels.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers the West Dorset area within the Wessex region, under the jurisdiction of the Dorset Council. Residents should be aware that flooding of fields and roads in these geographic regions remains a possibility due to the high groundwater levels.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to prepare property resilience measures immediately. If you have water pumps installed at your property, ensure they are in working order. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation as groundwater remains near the surface, increasing the risk of surface water flooding during intense rainfall.

Expected Conditions

While groundwater levels have begun to plateau, they remain over the flood alert thresholds. The start of this week is expected to see brighter and drier weather; however, further rainfall is forecast starting Thursday, February 26, which could cause levels to rise again. Where groundwater is near the surface, any intense rainfall will likely lead to surface water flooding.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 4:11 PM on February 23, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide a formal update by 11:00 AM on March 2, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes significantly.