FLOOD alerts remain in place across the Winchester area as nine hours of heavy rain is set to fall on the city.

This comes as the Met Office issues a yellow-weather warning for rain across the south coast. The warning is in place from 12pm today (January 4) to 3am tomorrow (January 5).

The latest forecast warns that heavy rain will fall in Winchester from 2pm until 10pm. 

Alerts are in place for several towns and villages across Hampshire, warning that flooding is possible.

READ MORE: Hampshire country road closed for work to remove 40 fallen trees

This includes groundwater flooding, where water rises from the underlying chalk, rather than from rivers or streams. Cellars are most at risk.

Alerts are in place for Bramdean and Cheriton, Hambledon, Hursley, King’s Somborne and Little Somborne, the Candovers and Old Alresford, areas of the Meon Valley, Bishop’s Sutton, and Twyford and Hensting.

The agency is warning that the Meon Valley villages at risk are East Meon, West Meon, Warnford, Exton, Corhampton, Meonstoke, Droxford and Soberton.

There is also a flood alert in place for the River Blackwater near Romsey.

The alert says: “The water level in the River Blackwater at Ower and Cadnam is now slowly falling. Due to the saturated nature of the River Blackwater catchment (60mm of rain has fallen in the last 9 days), the river remains responsive to relatively small amounts of rain.

Hampshire Chronicle: Map of the flood alert area for the River BlackwaterMap of the flood alert area for the River Blackwater (Image: Environment Agency)SEE ALSO: Yellow warning issued as heavy rain due to hit Winchester tomorrow

“Showers are forecast from mid-day through to mid-night, heavy rain (20-30mm widespread with isolated totals of 45mm) is forecast.

“If realised, this may result in a flood warning being issued for Landford to Wade Bridge on the River Blackwater. The river will flood land, fields and roads at Cadnam, West Wellow, Landford and Ower and water levels will also be very high around the mill building at East Wellow. We continue to monitor the forecast.”

For more information on the flood alerts, as well as what to do in the case of flooding, visit the Environment Agency website.