A Flood Alert was issued for Groundwater flooding in the West of Dorset in Dorset Council on 2nd March 2026. Affected watercourses included the Groundwater.
During this event, FloodRadar monitoring gauges recorded notable rises. The Groundwater Level at Ridge Way rose 1.69m, peaking at 80.96m, while the Groundwater Level at Iwerne Hill Farm climbed 1.35m.
Environment Agency advice issued
Groundwater levels in the West Dorset area have begun to plateau, but remain over the flood alert thresholds. Flooding of fields and roads is still possible. The start of this week sees brighter and drier weather, but further rainfall is forecast from Thursday, which could see levels rise again. Where groundwater is near the surface, intense rainfall will lead to surface water flooding. We are closely monitoring the situation. Residents are advised to prepare property resilience measures and ensure that pumps are working where they have been installed . This message will be updated by 11:00AM
Monitoring gauges during this event
| Station | River | Rise | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge Way | Groundwater Level | +1.69m | 80.96m |
| Iwerne Hill Farm | Groundwater Level | +1.35m | 112.58m |
| Delcombe Wood | Groundwater Level | +1.33m | 140.24m |
| Dickley Down | Groundwater Level | +1.11m | 162.67m |
| Bank Barrow | Groundwater Level | +0.83m | 54.46m |
| Badbury Rings | Groundwater Level | +0.76m | 37.31m |
| Doles Ash | Groundwater Level | +0.55m | 122.00m |
| Kingston Russell | Groundwater Level | +0.46m | 120.82m |
| Ashmore | Groundwater Level | +0.32m | 134.85m |
| Ashton Farm | Groundwater Level | +0.09m | 71.22m |