Flood Warning Issued for Bere Stream at Bere Regis Due to High Groundwater Levels

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for the Bere Stream at Bere Regis. This alert indicates that flooding is expected due to high groundwater levels in the Wessex area.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is Bere Regis within the Dorset Council jurisdiction. The warning specifically targets the Bere Stream catchment where groundwater levels remain high despite a recent period of drier weather.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following actions:

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that any installed flood pumps are switched on and functioning correctly.
• Prepare alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power failure.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may become inundated.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving on flooded roads to ensure personal safety and prevent bow waves from flooding nearby properties.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in West Dorset have peaked and are currently falling slowly, but they remain at a hazardous level. The Delcombe Wood borehole recently recorded a level of 141.76m. While the region has experienced a few days of drier weather, a new weather front is forecast to bring rainfall starting Thursday, February 26. This additional precipitation is expected to cause groundwater levels to rise again through the weekend.

Timeline

The warning was officially raised on February 25, 2026, at 12:24 PM. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.