Only days after Storm Ingrid closed part of Swanage’s seafront due to flying debris, Storm Chandra blew in and brought a deluge of rain, causing severe flooding to routes out of Purbeck in Dorset.
On Tuesday 27th January 2026, people woke up to the news that the road through Corfe Castle was closed after two vehicles had got stuck in flood water overnight, the Baker’s Arms roundabout at Lytchett Minster was flooded, and the Sandbanks Ferry had been suspended due to the stormy weather.
Wareham fire crew rescue two people from their vehicles at 4 am on the A351 at Corfe Castle
Amber weather warning of rain
With buses from Swanage to The Purbeck School and Lytchett Minster School cancelled, many students had to spend a day off school, while commuters struggled to get to work and many ended up working from home.
Storm Chandra moved in from the west and arrived in Purbeck about 6 pm on Monday 26th January 2026.
The Met Office had issued an Amber rain alert in advance and as the rain fell, the rivers swelled including the Corfe river.
The main road through Corfe Castle was closed
The van was abandoned overnight in the flood water at Corfe Castle
Stuck in flood water at Corfe Castle
In the early hours of the next day, the occupants of two separate vehicles had to be rescued by the fire service when they got stuck in flood water on the A351 by Corfe Castle.
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“We were called at 4.03 am on Tuesday 27th January to the A351 near Corfe Castle to reports of two vehicles stuck in water. A crew from Wareham and the water rescue team from Poole attended.
“Two people were assisted from their vehicles, and the stop came in at 5.28 am. The road was closed by Dorset Council Highways.”
As the day dawned, the flood water subsided but with two vehicles abandoned on the narrow stretch of carriageway, the road wasn’t reopened until both the vehicles had been towed away at about 3 pm.
The two vehicles abandoned during the night at Corfe Castle wait to be towed away
Corfe River burst its banks
“Significant risks”
It was one of fifteen calls across Dorset that the fire service responded to between midnight and 10.30 am on Tuesday 27th January 2026, from people who had driven into floodwater and then got stuck.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service 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.”
Holme Lane ford near Wareham was reported to be five feet deep before dropping back to four feet later in the day
Sandbanks Ferry service was suspended over the weekend of Storm Ingrid and again in the aftermath of Storm Chandra
Sandbanks Ferry suspended
Meanwhile, some tried to head out of Swanage via the Sandbanks Ferry which operates between Studland and Sandbanks across the mouth of Poole Harbour.
Although the chain ferry was operational for some of the day, it spent much of the morning with its service suspended due to the stormy weather conditions and the rolling swell of the sea.
Much to the frustration of some drivers, they didn’t discover the ferry wasn’t operational until they got to the toll booth.
From Stoborough looking towards Wareham, the causeway was only passable by boat
River Frome floods the Wareham quay
The banks of the River Frome have been submerged
Monsoon in Wareham
Wareham experienced the monsoon conditions too, predictably leaving the causeway between Stoborough and Wareham impassable.
Up by Wareham station, the nearby roundabout was like a lake and the underpass was like a river.
But what really caused the most disruption for those trying to drive to work in Poole or Bournemouth was the flooding of the Baker’s Arms roundabout near Lytchett Minster.
Not only was the flood water deep but several cars had been understandably abandoned causing further hazards to navigate. This was vividly captured on video by Lou Sassole on their way to work.
Baker’s Arms roundabout approached from the Wareham direction
Abandoned at the Baker’s Arms roundabout post Storm Chandra
Swanage seafront battered by waves and debris
In Swanage, the lower High Street had been closed on safety grounds by the coastguard on Saturday 24th January 2026 as Storm Ingrid saw huge waves battering the coastline.
With the temporary concrete storm blocks staying in place, much of the force of the waves was weakened but sand, seaweed, and rocks were still thrown right across the road and down towards the town centre.
As Storm Chandra was advancing, the road stayed closed for the repeat performance, which was still going strong at 6 am on Tuesday 27th January 2026. Filmed by Gigi Lomath it clearly illustrated the need for permanent sea defences along the lower High Street.
Originally the plan was to build a flood defence scheme along Swanage seafront during autumn 2025 but the dates have been pushed back by the Environment Agency due to changes in government funding. The whole scheme is on hold but the flooding continues to occur.
Lower High Street in Swanage took the brunt of Storm Ingrid
Swanage coastguard closed the road on Saturday 24th January 2026 and it has remained closed
Post Storm Chandra even more debris had been deposited on the road
It may be a while until Dorset Council is able to reopen the road
“Take extra care”
With more rain forecast, the ground already saturated, and water still pouring off the hills into the rivers, it’s expected some disruption to roads around Dorset will continue over the next few days.
Dorset Council’s cabinet member for place services Jon Andrews said:
“Our crews are battling the areas where they can make a difference, but some flooding simply can’t be engineered away when the ground is already saturated and water is above road level.
“Please follow road closures, avoid driving through floodwater, and take extra care. We’ll continue to keep people updated as the situation develops.”
Watch Swanage seafront filmed by Gigi Lomath
Watch Baker’s Arms roundabout filmed by Lou Sassole
Further information
- Driving in bad weather advice from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
- More about news in Corfe Castle on its community Facebook page
More photos
There was little opportunity to get on or off the Isle of Purbeck
Stoborough homes, looking towards the causeway
Employee of the year heads to Wareham station!
You can’t easily go over it but you certainly can’t go under the Wareham underpass
Waves have battered Swanage seafront for several days
High tides and gales have seen the sea come right up to the Swanage Museum building
The sea overtops the Shore Road promenade
Despite the temporary storm blocks, the sea ran down the High Street in Swanage, depositing seaweed along the road
Swanage’s Gee Whites gets a battering
