Flood Alert Issued for Meon Valley Groundwater Levels in Hampshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the Meon Valley. The alert was officially raised at 4:58 PM on March 10, 2026, following high groundwater levels in the Solent and South Downs area.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Meon Valley from East Meon to Soberton in Hampshire. Specific locations identified as being at risk include Rectory Lane, where water may be flowing across the road and affecting the local electricity sub-station. Residual flooding is also noted behind the Buck’s Head Pub.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to prepare property resilience measures immediately. Those with water pumps installed should ensure they are in proper working order. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation as conditions evolve.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels are currently high but are slowly falling. Data from the borehole at Pound Lane in Meonstoke shows a level decrease of 85cm over the past week. However, the forecast indicates that between 20mm and 25mm of rain is expected on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13. This additional rainfall could cause groundwater flooding impacts to re-occur if heavy rain affects the valley.

Timeline

The alert is currently active. While mostly dry weather is forecast for Tuesday (March 10), Wednesday (March 11), and Saturday (March 14), the primary risk window occurs during the rainfall expected on Thursday and Friday. This message is scheduled to be updated by 6:00 PM on March 17, 2026.