Flood Warning Issued for Wylye Valley at Warminster Due to High Groundwater

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for the Wylye Valley at Warminster. This alert indicates that flooding is expected due to high groundwater levels in the region.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is the Wylye Valley at Warminster, located in the county of Wiltshire within the Environment Agency’s Wessex area. Specific monitoring at the Tilshead borehole shows levels at 99.00m.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected area are advised to take the following actions:

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are in working order.
• Be prepared for the potential inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving; roads may be flooded or damaged by floodwater. Avoid driving through floodwater to prevent damage to your vehicle and to avoid splashing water into nearby properties.

Expected Conditions

While groundwater levels in Salisbury Plain have begun to fall, they remain significantly high. The current forecast indicates unsettled weather in the coming days, which may cause these falling levels to rise again. Residents should expect potential flooding in cellars. Additionally, where groundwater is near the surface, any intense rainfall will likely lead to surface water flooding.

Timeline

This alert was officially raised on March 12, 2026. The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely and expects to provide an updated message by 2:00 PM on March 19, 2026.