Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater Flooding Along the Till in Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding along the Till. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are expected to cause flooding in the Wessex area.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers geographic regions within Wiltshire, including:

• Tilshead
• Orcheston
• Shrewton
• Berwick St James

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures.
• Ensure that all water pumps are installed, switched on, and functioning correctly.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power outage.
• Be aware of potential inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels in Salisbury Plain are currently beginning to fall but remain high. The Tilshead borehole has recorded a level of 99.01m. While levels are currently falling slowly, the forecast remains unsettled. Moderate showers are expected in the coming days, which may cause groundwater levels to rise again heading into the weekend. Properties in the affected areas may experience flooding in cellars.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 12, 2026, at 1:33 PM. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 19, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.