Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater in Allen Vale at Sixpenny Handley

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Allen Vale at Sixpenny Handley. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are expected to cause flooding in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers Sixpenny Handley within the Wessex area. The geographic scope includes regions under the jurisdiction of Dorset Council and Wiltshire.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Cranborne Chase are currently falling slowly but remain significantly high. The West Woodyates borehole has recorded a level of 104.52m. While the area 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.

Potential impacts include:

• Flooding of cellars in affected properties.
• Inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.
• Flooding of local roads, creating hazardous driving conditions.

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 basement or flood pumps are switched on and in good working order.
• Identify alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power outage.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving; do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.
• Monitor local conditions as the situation evolves.

Timeline

This alert was officially raised at 12:30 PM on February 25, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.