Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater Flooding in Gussage Area of Dorset and Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Gussage area. This alert is currently active due to high groundwater levels in Cranborne Chase which, despite falling slowly, remain at hazardous levels.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific geographic regions within Dorset Council and Wiltshire. Primary areas affected include:

• Gussage St. Andrew
• Gussage St Michael
• Gussage All Saints

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take immediate action:

• Prepare and deploy property resilience measures.
• Ensure that all flood pumps are installed, functional, and switched on.
• Prepare alternative power sources for pumps in the event of power cuts.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may experience inundation.
• Avoid driving on flooded roads.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the Rushmore borehole are currently recorded at 133.27m. While the region has seen a brief period of drier weather, additional rainfall is forecast to begin Thursday, February 26, which may cause groundwater levels to rise again into the weekend. These high levels will likely exacerbate the impacts of any fluvial flooding. Residents should expect flooding in cellars and on local roadways.

Timeline

The alert was officially issued on March 5, 2026. The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely as the new weather front approaches. This message is scheduled to be updated by 2:00 PM on March 11, 2026, or sooner if conditions change.