Flood Warning Issued for River Piddle from Alton Pancras to Wareham

Alert Details

Type: Flood Warning (Severity Level 2)
Issued By: Environment Agency
Effective: February 15, 2026, at 12:18 PM

Affected Areas

The Environment Agency has identified several communities along the River Piddle at significant risk. Affected areas include:

• Alton Pancras
• Piddletrenthide
• Piddlehinton
• Druce
• Puddletown
• Athelhampton
• Affpuddle
• Briantspuddle
• Wareham, including Purbeck View Park

What You Should Do

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

• Continue using any available flood protection products.
• Activate and follow your personal or business flood plan.
• Avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water.
• Safety Warning: Do not attempt to drive through flood water; as little as 30cm of fast-flowing water is enough to move a vehicle.

Expected Conditions

River levels remain high due to recent heavy rainfall and high groundwater levels. The weather forecast remains unsettled, with additional rainfall expected throughout the day. This further precipitation may cause river levels to rise again. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation as conditions evolve.

Timeline

This alert was raised on February 15, 2026. The Environment Agency expects to provide a formal update by 4:00 PM on February 16, 2026, or sooner if the situation changes significantly.