Flood Alert Issued for Villages Surrounding Andover Due to Rising Groundwater Levels

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the villages surrounding Andover. This alert is managed by the Solent and South Downs area office and was officially raised on March 11, 2026, following observations of high groundwater levels.

Affected Areas

The alert covers specific geographic regions within Hampshire and Wiltshire. Impacted locations include the villages of Appleshaw, Hatherden, Penton Grafton, and Penton Mewsey. Flooding has also been reported on Deacon and Down Road in Kimpton, as well as the main access road into Penton Grafton.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in good working order.
• Remove all valuables stored in cellars to prevent water damage.
• Monitor local conditions as sewerage system impacts are ongoing in Appleshaw and Penton Mewsey.

Expected Conditions

While only 7mm of rain was recorded over the past week, groundwater levels remain critically high. Cellar flooding is currently expected in Appleshaw, Hatherden, and potentially Penton Grafton. Between 15mm and 20mm of additional rainfall is forecast to affect Hampshire starting Thursday, March 12, through Friday, March 13.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately. Although drier weather is anticipated over the upcoming weekend, the Environment Agency expects groundwater levels to remain very high throughout the month of March. Flooding impacts are likely to persist into April. This message will be updated by 6:00 PM on March 18, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.