Flood Warning Issued for Bourne Valley and The Winterbournes Due to High Groundwater

Source: Environment Agency · Hampshire and Wiltshire

This alert is no longer in effect.

Environment Agency issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this Environment Agency flood warning directly from Environment Agency's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire as rising groundwater levels threaten properties in the Bourne Valley.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Flood Warning
Affected area
Hampshire and Wiltshire
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
Environment Agency

Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a formal Flood Warning for groundwater flooding in the Bourne Valley - The Winterbournes. This warning indicates that flooding is expected due to high groundwater levels across the Wessex area.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific regions within Hampshire and Wiltshire. Communities identified as being at risk include:

  • Winterbourne Gunner
  • Winterbourne Dauntsey
  • Winterbourne Earls
  • Laverstock

What You Should Do

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

  • Prepare and implement property resilience measures immediately.
  • Ensure that any installed water pumps are in working order and switched on.
  • Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power outage.
  • Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may become inundated.
  • Monitor cellars, as these are at particular risk of flooding.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Salisbury Plain are currently high, with the Clarendon borehole recording a level of 73.98m. The Environment Agency notes that levels remain reactive to further rainfall. These high groundwater levels are also expected to influence the River Bourne, increasing the risk of fluvial (river) flooding in the valley.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 2:54 PM on February 24, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 4:00 PM on March 3, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.

Original source: Environment Agency Official Notice ↗

All Flood Warnings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Environment Agency flood warning.

What is this Environment Agency flood warning about?
The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire as rising groundwater levels threaten properties in the Bourne Valley.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Environment Agency. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Hampshire and Wiltshire. Check with Environment Agency for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Flood Warnings updates?
Browse the full Flood Warnings feed on Areazine at areazine.com/uk/floods/ for the latest updates from Environment Agency and other agencies.