MORE than 20 flood warnings are in place for Dorset today.

The Environment Agency has a total of 22 flood warnings – meaning “immediate action is required” – for the county.  

Today and over the weekend, Storm Jorge is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds with a number of weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office.

The Environment Agency says as a result of the rain, there is a possibility of flooding for tributaries between Ringwood and Christchurch

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “River levels remain high at the Ringwood Old Cottage river gauge as a result of the ground being saturated and reacting to rainfall.

“We expect further rainfall over the weekend to maintain the current high river levels.

“High groundwater levels in the wider catchment and New Forest area are being topped up by the repeated bands of rainfall and continue to add to river levels and so we expect river levels to remain high for some time consequently, the risk of flooding remains.

“We expect flooding to affect tributaries between Ringwood and Christchurch."

The spokesperson added: “River levels can rise very quickly in response to rainfall. We are closely monitoring the situation. Please avoid using bridges over local watercourses and avoid contact with flood water.”

The 22 flood warnings

  • Curry Moor and Hay Moor  
  • Groundwater flooding for the Bere Stream
  • Groundwater flooding for the Crane
  • Groundwater flooding for the Devils Brook
  • Groundwater flooding for the Ebble Valley
  • Groundwater flooding for the Gussage
  • Groundwater flooding for the Hooke
  • Groundwater flooding for the Iwerne
  • Groundwater flooding for the North Winterborne, north of the A354
  • Groundwater flooding for the North Winterborne, south of the A354
  • Groundwater flooding for the Piddle Valley
  • Groundwater flooding for the Pimperne Brook
  • Groundwater flooding for the South Winterbourne Valley
  • Groundwater flooding for the Sydling
  • Groundwater flooding for the Tarrant Valley
  • Groundwater flooding for the Wylye Valley
  • Groundwater flooding in the Allen Vale at Monkton Up Wimborne and Wimborne St Giles 
  • Groundwater flooding in the Bourne Valley - The Winterbournes
  • Groundwater flooding in the Cerne Valley
  • Groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire - Damerham and Martin
  • Groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire - Rockbourne
  • Groundwater flooding in the Lower Allen Vale

The 15 flood alerts

  • Groundwater flooding in Pitton, West Tytherley, Nether Wallop and Broughton
  • Groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase area
  • Groundwater flooding in the Salisbury Plain area
  • Groundwater flooding in the West of Dorset
  • Lower Avon and tributaries
  • Lower Frome and tributaries
  • Lower Tone and Parrett Moors
  • Middle Avon and tributaries
  • River Bourne and tributaries
  • River Piddle and tributaries
  • River Wylye and tributaries
  • River Yeo and River Parrett Moors around Muchelney and Thorney
  • South East Somerset Rivers, Upper Reaches
  • West Dorset Rivers and Streams • Weymouth Rivers and Streams