Flood Warning Issued for Bourne Valley and The Winterbournes in Hampshire and Wiltshire

Alert Details

A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for groundwater flooding in the Bourne Valley - The Winterbournes. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are currently causing flooding in the Wessex area.

Affected Areas

The geographic scope of this warning includes parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire. Specific communities identified as being at risk include:

• Winterbourne Gunner
• Winterbourne Dauntsey
• Winterbourne Earls
• Laverstock

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that any installed flood pumps are working and switched on.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power cut.
• Be aware that properties may experience flooding in cellars.
• Note that septic tanks and sewer systems may experience inundation due to the high water table.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels across Salisbury Plain are currently high. While they are falling slowly, they remain highly reactive to further rainfall. At the Clarendon borehole, the groundwater level has been recorded at 71.00m. These high groundwater levels are also influencing the River Bourne, which increases the risk of fluvial (river) flooding in the region.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 9:53 AM on March 20, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 23, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.