Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater in Crichel and Surrounding Dorset Council Areas

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Crichel area. This alert was officially raised on February 25, 2026, at 12:43 PM following sustained high groundwater levels in the Wessex region.

Affected Areas

According to the Environment Agency, the specific geographic regions and communities at risk within the Dorset Council area include:

• Cheetle
• Long Crichel
• Moor Crichel

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and deploy property resilience measures.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in good working order and switched on.
• Identify alternative power sources for pumps in case of local power outages.
• Be prepared for the potential inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.
• Property owners with cellars should monitor for water ingress.
• Avoid traveling on flooded roads.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Cranborne Chase are currently falling slowly but remain high. The Rushmore borehole has recorded a level of 133.27m. While the area has seen a brief period of drier weather, a new weather system is forecast to bring rainfall starting Thursday, February 26, which is expected to cause groundwater levels to rise again into the weekend. These high levels will also increase the severity of any fluvial (river) flooding in the region. Expected impacts include the flooding of roads and residential cellars.

Timeline

The alert is currently in effect as of February 25, 2026. Increased risks are anticipated starting Thursday, February 26, with the potential for rising water levels through the weekend. The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely and will provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change.