Flood Alert Issued for Lower Avon and Tributaries in Wessex Region
This alert is no longer in effect.
Environment Agency issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this Environment Agency flood warning directly from Environment Agency's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Lower Avon and its tributaries, warning of potential flooding in parts of Hampshire and Dorset as river levels remain high.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Flood Alert
- Affected area
- Wessex Region
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- Environment Agency
Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Wessex Region.
Alert Details
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Lower Avon and its tributaries. While river levels are currently dropping, they remain higher than normal and are expected to be responsive to upcoming rainfall. This alert indicates that flooding is still possible in the region.
Affected Areas
The alert covers the Wessex area, specifically impacting the following counties and regions:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Dorset Council
- Hampshire
Areas at the highest risk include tributaries between Ringwood and Christchurch. Low-lying land and roads near rivers, particularly around Ringwood Old Cottage, are likely to be affected as river levels react to rainfall.
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:
- Avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses.
- Do not attempt to walk, cycle, or drive through flood water.
- Remember that just 30cm of fast-flowing water is enough to move a car.
Expected Conditions
While conditions are expected to remain dry today, rain is forecast for Thursday and Friday. This additional precipitation may impact river levels, which are already sensitive due to current conditions.
Timeline
The alert was updated at 8:01 AM on February 25, 2026. The Environment Agency is continuing to monitor the situation. A further update is expected by 10:00 AM on February 26, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes.
Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗
Related Flood Warnings
All Flood Warnings →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this Environment Agency flood warning.