Risk of summer drought ‘at normal levels’, says EA
The Environment Agency has played down reports that the UK could be heading for a summer drought, following the wettest winter on record.
Reports this week in the national press suggested that the dry weather in June could mean a return to similar drought conditions last seen in the summer of 2012.
Despite the record-breaking wet weather experienced this winter – officially the wettest since records began in 1910 – water levels are falling due to the recent dry weather.
But the Environment Agency said the overall water resources situation across England was “looking healthy”.
The EA’s water resources adviser, Victoria Williams, said: “Groundwater levels throughout England are within normal ranges and are now starting to recede as expected for the time of year.
“We also look ahead by modelling how rivers and groundwaters may respond to different future rainfall patterns over the summer.
“The results shows a broadly positive picture even if rainfall is below average and point to the risk of drought this summer being no greater than average.”
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However, Ms Williams stressed it was still important for everyone to “use water wisely”.
“If the weather does turn hot and dry there can be localised impacts on rivers, the environment and for farming,” she added.
If this happens, the agency said it would work with abstractors to reduce the effects where possible and water companies will keep farmers and landowners informed.
Despite the wet winter, the first confirmation of water restrictions was sent to abstractors in Kent this week.
The EA said it had sent letters to farmers to make them aware that “hands off flow” conditions may be applied to abstractors along the River Medway and Upper Stour – predominately clay-based catchment reliant on rainwater to maintain water levels in the river – in the coming weeks.
The Met Office said most of the UK, especially southern regions, could expect the “long, dry spell” to continue over the next fortnight. But forecaster Nicola Mazey also talked down suggestions that the UK was heading for a drought.
“We are looking at dry weather, which is fairly typical summer weather,” she said. “There will be some dry spells, but it won’t be wall-to-wall sunshine – there is plenty of cloud about as well.”
“Southern areas will remain largely dry and the drier conditions will continue into next week. However, there is no indication that there is going to be a drought of any sort.”