Flood Alert Issued for Twyford and Hensting as Groundwater Levels Rise

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the Solent and South Downs area. The alert was officially raised on February 23, 2026, following a week where 31mm of rainfall was recorded.

Affected Areas

The primary areas affected include Twyford and Hensting within the county of Hampshire. Specific reports indicate that water is currently flowing on Hensting Lane, and a small number of properties in both Twyford and Hensting are already experiencing cellar flooding.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures.
• Ensure that all flood pumps are installed and in good working order.
• Monitor local weather reports and groundwater levels closely.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels are currently rising slowly. While a small number of properties are currently impacted, a larger number of properties in Twyford could experience cellar flooding starting Thursday, February 26, 2026. If heavy rain occurs, water could begin to flow down the main road in Twyford within the next two weeks. Forecasts indicate that groundwater levels will likely continue to rise slowly into March.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of February 23, 2026. A period of dry weather is expected from Monday, February 23, through Wednesday, February 25. However, further rainfall between 15mm and 25mm is forecast for Thursday, February 26, into Friday, February 27. The Environment Agency will provide an update on this situation by 6:00 PM on March 2, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.