Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue put out a statement on driving through flooded areas:
Area Manager Ant Bholah said: “Very often, surface water doesn’t appear very deep but there can be unseen dips in the road which then catch drivers unaware. There is also a risk of drivers in larger vehicles driving through water without dropping their speed, which then creates a ‘bow wave’ effect – and this can cause significant risks for other vehicles. While this wet weather continues, please drive to the conditions and be particularly cautious at fords, where water levels can rise a lot in a short space of time.”
- Don’t drive through standing water – as well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see, or it may be a lot deeper than you realise. If you see a sign that says the road is closed due to flooding, remember the sign is there for a reason. Don’t try to drive through, or you might get stuck.
- If you are driving a larger vehicle, do not go through flood water at speed, as this creates a ‘bow wave’ that can then cause flooding to adjacent properties.
- If you do break down in flooding, firefighters can only rescue you and anyone else in the vehicle. It is your responsibility to get the vehicle recovered.
- When driving, if heavy rain is making visibility difficult, pull over if possible.
- Remember that roads will be slippery during wet conditions.
- Don’t try and walk through floodwater that is above knee level, as the force of the water could easily knock you off your feet. There is also a danger of open manholes, trenches or other hazards that you can’t see
Bournemouth’s waste collection services have been hit by flooding, causing delays in pick up or even cancellations.
Storm Chandra has swept over Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, bringing persistent and heavy rain that has already caused surface-water flooding in parts of the BCP area.
Dorset Police continues to issue warnings as the flood reports progress.
Roads and low-lying spots have seen water build-up, and residents are being urged to stay alert as conditions evolve.
The Met Office has put an amber rain warning in place, with between 30–50 mm of rain expected widely through Monday night and into Tuesday and even higher totals on elevated ground.
With the ground already saturated from previous rainfall, that raises the risk of flooding affecting homes, businesses and transport links.
Local services have warned that surface water flooding is likely in some streets and parks this morning as drainage struggles to keep up.
A31 and A35 reportedly flooded.
Public transport may be delayed or disrupted, with bus and rail services facing possible hold-ups if roads become impassable.
Travel conditions could be hazardous, with fast-flowing water on roads and reduced visibility making driving trickier.
Residents are being urged to take sensible precautions:
- Avoid walking or driving through floodwater; it’s deeper and more dangerous than it looks.
- Postpone unnecessary journeys during the peak rain period
- Keep an eye on local weather updates and travel news through the morning as conditions develop.
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