The A361 in Somerset has been forced to close again just one day after reopening, following a three-week closure caused by flooding. This disruption comes amid persistently saturated ground and high water levels driven by continuous rainfall.
A major incident was declared in Somerset on the evening of Tuesday, January 27, due to the severe flooding triggered by Storm Chandra. Although the county has recently shifted into a recovery phase and the major incident status was lifted earlier this week, the weather conditions have proven challenging.
The A361 had reopened on Thursday, February 19, after conditions improved and the road was deemed safe for travel. However, further rainfall caused new flooding on Friday, forcing Somerset Council to close the road again. The rising groundwater levels, particularly in the spillway adjacent to the road, have led to this renewed closure, and the council warns that such flooding issues are expected to persist over the coming weeks.
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Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services at Somerset Council, highlighted the council’s commitment to balancing safety with accessibility. “We understand how vital this road is to local communities and motorists," he said. “We always aim to keep it open, but during a wet winter like this, temporary closures are sometimes necessary to ensure public safety. We ask everyone to respect road closure signs for their own safety.”
Somerset Council reiterated the dangers of driving through floodwaters and urged residents to heed official closures. Traffic monitoring services confirmed that the A361 remains closed as of Saturday morning.
In their “final multi-agency update” related to the major incident, authorities reported that river levels are beginning to recede, with five flood warnings and eight flood alerts still active in the region. Additional pumping equipment has been deployed to 19 locations across the Somerset Levels and Moors to manage water levels effectively.
Officials note that although peak river flows are passing and water levels are dropping, the saturated ground and potential for more rain—especially with predictions of persistent rainfall on Sunday—mean that flood risks remain high. Pumps in several areas are currently limited by river conditions, but pumping will resume as soon as possible to alleviate flooding.
The council continues to closely monitor the situation and hopes to reopen the A361 at the earliest safe opportunity.