Flood Alert Issued for Salisbury Plain as Groundwater Levels Rise in Hampshire and Wiltshire

Alert Details

A flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for the Salisbury Plain area. This alert specifically concerns groundwater flooding within the Wessex area, following recent periods of rainfall that have caused levels to rise.

Affected Areas

The alert is in effect for the Salisbury Plain region, encompassing geographic areas within the counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare property resilience measures in anticipation of potential flooding.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in good working order and ready for use.
• Monitor local weather reports and groundwater conditions closely.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels have risen in response to recent rainfall and are expected to plateau during the early part of this week. However, the flooding of fields and roads remains a possibility. While the start of the week is expected to be brighter and drier, further rainfall is forecast beginning Thursday. Because groundwater is currently near the surface, any intense rainfall may lead to immediate surface water flooding. The Environment Agency notes that levels remain highly reactive to additional precipitation.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on February 23, 2026, at 4:13 PM. While levels are expected to plateau initially, the risk may increase following forecast rainfall on Thursday. The Environment Agency will monitor the situation and provides a scheduled update by 11:00 AM on March 2, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.