River Levels Rising in Dorset Prompt Flood Alerts

Residents residing close to waterways throughout Dorset are advised to make flood preparations as water levels ascend due to significant precipitation associated with Storm Bert. The Environment Agency (EA) has released alerts for regions such as the Lower Dorset Frome, the River Stour, River Axe, and Upper Frome. A total of 22 flood warnings are presently active. Ongoing travel disruptions are anticipated, as many roads remain submerged and railway services operate at slower speeds across numerous routes. The EA recommended that individuals, in the event of an active flood warning, relocate their families and pets to secure locations and transfer vehicles to elevated areas if conditions permit. Furthermore, it encouraged drivers to pre-plan their journeys to bypass roads situated in lower elevations close to rivers, should inundation occur. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue reported that a significant number of roads continued to be impacted by the substantial rainfall on Sunday. The fire service stated: “Check your route before setting off. Don’t drive through standing water – it may be a lot deeper than you think.” Notwithstanding these advisories, occupants of two vans and a car found themselves trapped in floodwater on White Mill Bridge near Sturminster Marshall around 07:30 GMT. Emergency crews extracted the car driver, concurrently, a tractor pulled the two vans to a secure location. Blandford Fire Station declared the thoroughfare crossing the River Stour from Sturminster Marshall to Kingston Lacy estate as “impassable” and cautioned that drivers must heed the closure notices present on both approaches to the bridge. Sunday saw Sturminster Newton firefighters relocate a group of 66 sheep to safety, following the animals’ entrapment by rising waters. The sheep were discovered marooned in a field at Fifehead Magdalen, adjacent to the River Stour. The fire service reported that personnel were required to extract two sheep from the ascending waters, while the remaining animals were guided further along the riverbank. Throughout the weekend, yellow alerts for wind and rain were active across the southern region, leading to the cancellation of numerous events due to the prevailing atmospheric conditions. In Hampshire, a fatality occurred when a tree collapsed onto a car on the A34 close to Winchester. Law enforcement officials have not yet verified a connection between this event and Storm Bert. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material on external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are available.