Flood Warning Issued for Chitterne Valley as Groundwater Levels Rise in Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Chitterne Valley. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are currently expected to cause flooding in the region.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is Chitterne, located in the county of Wiltshire within the Wessex area. Groundwater levels across Salisbury Plain are currently high and beginning to plateau, specifically impacting the Chitterne Valley region.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that all installed flood pumps are switched on and in working order.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power cut.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may experience inundation.
• Prepare for potential flooding in cellars and on local roads.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the Chitterne Down borehole have reached 101.22m and are expected to remain high. While the region has experienced a few days of drier weather, further rainfall is forecast to begin tomorrow, Thursday, February 26. This additional precipitation is expected to cause groundwater levels to rise again through the weekend. Expected impacts include the flooding of roads and residential cellars.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 5, 2026. Rainfall is expected to begin on Thursday, February 26, with impacts lasting into the weekend. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 11, 2026, or sooner if conditions change.