Flood Guidance Statement

15:00hrs Thursday 13 February 2014

Abstract from the statement for Dorset:

HIGH flood risk for Dorset for coastal flooding on Friday into Saturday.
Significant and locally severe disruption from coastal flooding is also possible across most of the south coast of England on Friday and Saturday, most especially along the Dorset coastline.
Larger and slower responding rivers such as the Dorset Stour, the River Dee in North Wales and the Great Ouse continue to react to recent rainfall. Impacts may include disruption to transport, flooding of parts of communities.

Coastal / tidal
On Friday and into Saturday, another area of low pressure will bring gales, large waves and a positive surge to the south coast of England. This brings a HIGH flood risk to parts of Dorset, with a high likelihood of severe coastal flooding impacts particularly around Chiswell and Preston Beach. In places coastal beaches and defences remain degraded from recent storms.

Groundwater
Groundwater levels are exceptionally high (at record levels in parts of Wiltshire) across much of the south of England and further rainfall over the coming days is expected to exacerbate disruption from groundwater flooding.

In south Wiltshire and parts of Dorset (communities of Tilshead, Shrewton, Orcheston, Berwick St James and Around Cranborne Chase) localised groundwater flooding is already occurring and there is a low likelihood of significant impacts from groundwater flooding today, bringing a LOW flood risk overall. From Friday onwards, groundwater levels in these areas are expected to rise again in response to recent rainfall, with a medium likelihood of significant impacts in Dorset and Wiltshire leading to a MEDIUM overall flood risk. Impacts may include further flooding to properties and roads in the area, specifically the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas, leading to significant travel disruption.

Surface water
On Friday and Saturday, further heavy rain and bands of showers will fall on very saturated ground across much of England and Wales. In southern parts of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and western parts of Dorset, there is a medium likelihood of significant impacts from surface water flooding on both Friday and Saturday.

Read the full detail: Flood Guidance Statement as of 1500 Thurs 13th Feb