Various occasions that left Dorset under rainwater

During a surprising deluge in July 1955, Dorset experienced an unprecedented downpour that inundated various areas with up to seven inches of rain within a single day.

This event highlights the unpredictable nature of threats beyond just winter weather.

In November 1966, North Dorset faced one of its most severe flooding events in more than twenty-five years.

Numerous individuals laboured diligently to fortify their entrances against the swelling River Stour, yet the relentless water still managed to infiltrate their homes.

During the early summer of 1979, unexpected flooding struck the areas of Wimborne, Throop, and Holdenhurst, following a rapid rise in the water levels of the River Stour.

Eight hundred residents of caravans were urgently evacuated from Grove Farm Meadow Caravan Park located along Stour Way in Christchurch.

In late December of 1979, an unprecedented flood wreaked havoc across the county when the River Stour overflowed, causing widespread destruction in Blandford, Wimborne, and Christchurch.

Caravans were swept away while cars vanished without a trace. The village of Holdenhurst found itself isolated from the outside world, facing the brunt of the natural disaster.

In Christchurch, firefighters waded chest-deep in icy floodwater to rescue stranded people.

The decade was marked by some of the most devastating floods in Dorset's history, but there was also a prolonged drought that gripped the region like never before.

With scorching temperatures reaching the 90s, the landscape became a tinderbox, igniting severe forest fires that ravaged the countryside.

In September, the much-needed rain finally made its appearance, pouring down heavily as if making up for lost time.