Flood Warning Issued for Bere Stream in Dorset Due to High Groundwater Levels

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for the Bere Stream in the Wessex area. This alert indicates that flooding is expected as a result of high groundwater levels in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts areas within the jurisdiction of Dorset Council. Geographic regions expected to be affected include:

• Milton Abbas
• Milborne St. Andrew

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that all installed flood pumps are functional, switched on, and ready for use.
• Consider alternative power sources in case of potential power cuts.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may experience inundation.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving on flooded roads; drive slowly to ensure your own safety and to prevent creating waves that could flood nearby properties.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels across West Dorset are currently high. Monitoring at the Delcombe Wood borehole shows a level of 142.06m. While the water level is starting to fall, the Environment Agency notes that the system remains highly reactive to further rainfall.

Timeline

This alert was officially raised at 3:03 PM on February 24, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 3, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.