Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater in Cranborne Chase and Rockbourne, West Hampshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase area of West Hampshire. This alert was officially raised on February 25, 2026, at 1:02 PM following sustained high groundwater levels.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic focus of this warning is Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire, specifically including the village of Rockbourne. The Environment Agency identifies the Wessex area and the county of Hampshire as the broader regions impacted by these conditions.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare and deploy property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that all water pumps are installed, switched on, and functioning correctly.
• Arrange for alternative power sources to keep pumps running in the event of a power outage.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may become inundated.
• Prepare for potential flooding in cellars and avoid driving through flooded roads.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Cranborne Chase are currently falling slowly but remain dangerously high. The West Woodyates borehole has recorded a level of 104.52m. While the region has experienced a brief period of drier weather, a new weather front bringing rainfall is forecast to begin on Thursday, February 26. This additional precipitation is expected to cause groundwater levels to rise again through the weekend. These high levels will also exacerbate the impacts of any fluvial (river) flooding in the area.

Timeline

The alert is currently active as of February 25, 2026. Rainfall is expected to begin Thursday, February 26, with rising water levels projected to continue into the weekend. The Environment Agency will monitor the situation closely and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.