Flood Warning Issued for Upper Avon Valley and Nine Mile River Due to High Groundwater

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Wessex area. The alert was officially raised on February 24, 2026, at 2:50 PM GMT due to sustained high groundwater levels on the Salisbury Plain.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific geographic regions in Wiltshire, including:

• Upper Avon Valley
• Nine Mile River

What You Should Do

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

• Property Resilience: Prepare and deploy flood resilience measures.
• Pump Maintenance: Ensure that all installed pumps are working and switched on.
• Power Backup: Consider alternative power sources in case of potential power cuts.
• Travel Safety: Take particular care when driving, as flooding of roads is expected.
• Sanitation: Be aware that residents may experience inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels on the Salisbury Plain remain high and are reactive to further rainfall. Data from the Everleigh borehole shows a current level of 132.63m. Expected impacts include the flooding of cellars in affected areas and significant water on roadways.

Timeline

The alert is currently effective as of February 24, 2026. The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely and will provide an update by 4:00 PM on March 3, 2026, or sooner if conditions evolve.