Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater Flooding in Pentridge and Cranborne

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding for the Crane. The alert was officially raised at 12:39 PM on February 25, 2026, following high groundwater levels in the Wessex area.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the geographic regions of Dorset Council and Hampshire. Specific locations identified as being at risk include Pentridge and Cranborne. Groundwater levels in the Cranborne Chase area remain high despite falling slowly.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that water pumps are installed, switched on, and working correctly.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of power outages.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving, as roads are expected to flood and may have sustained damage.
• Monitor septic tanks and sewer systems, as inundation is expected.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the West Woodyates borehole are currently recorded at 104.52m and are expected to remain high. While the region has experienced a few days of drier weather, further rainfall is forecast to begin Thursday, February 26. This additional precipitation is expected to cause groundwater levels to rise again through the weekend. Residents should be prepared for the flooding of cellars and the inundation of essential utility systems.

Timeline

The alert is currently active as of February 25, 2026. Rainfall is expected to impact the area starting Thursday, February 26, with rising water levels possible into the weekend. The Environment Agency plans to provide an update on this situation by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.