Wiltshire Council issued storm advice on 1 November 2023 as Storm Ciarán approached the county, warning of high winds, heavy rain and potential flooding during the week. The council's warning was carried by Wiltshire & Swindon Prepared, the county's local resilience forum.
Yellow warnings of both wind and rain were in force for Wiltshire on Wednesday and Thursday, though the council said this could change as the storm approached and that the forecast should be checked1. River Flood Alerts were in place in the west and north of the county1. A Flood Alert is the first level of Environment Agency flood warnings and means flooding is possible and that people should be prepared1. In areas at risk of groundwater flooding, mostly in the south of the county, groundwater levels looked to be normal, but the council said this could change following heavy rain and that people should still be alert to potential flooding1.
| Area of Wiltshire | Position reported on 1 November 2023 |
|---|---|
| Whole county | Yellow warnings of wind and rain on Wednesday and Thursday1 |
| West and north | River Flood Alerts in place1 |
| South | Groundwater levels normal at the time, but subject to change after heavy rain1 |
Wiltshire Council's highways teams were to be on standby to deal with incidents such as flooding and fallen trees, working through them on a priority basis as they occurred1. The council asked residents to report flooding, fallen trees or other obstructions on the highway through its MyWilts reporting system1.
"Wiltshire Council are advising you to be prepared for high winds, heavy rain and potential flooding as Storm Ciarán approaches the county this week."
Why it matters for households
The warnings covered the whole county on both days, so households across Wiltshire were affected, not only those near rivers. Those in the west and north faced the additional prospect of river flooding, and those in the south were told to remain alert to groundwater flooding even though levels were normal at the time1. The council advised people in areas covered by Flood Alerts to sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings and to know what to do in case of flooding1. It also asked households to secure loose items in their gardens, such as trampolines and furniture covers, to take extra care when travelling, to drive to the conditions and to watch for debris on the roads1. For the latest forecast it directed people to the Met Office1. The Met Office weather warnings guide explains what the Yellow, Amber and Red levels mean, and there is a separate guide to signing up for Met Office weather alerts. More general preparation for storms and snow is also covered.
What happens next
The council said the warnings might change as the storm approached and that the forecast should be checked1. Highways teams were to remain on standby to respond to flooding and fallen trees on a priority basis as incidents occurred1. No further dated steps were given.
Met Office Weather Warnings
