Environment Agency: England needs seven months of above-average rain to end drought
New research finds almost 75% of England remains in drought, with recovery unlikely before spring 2027 even under a wetter-than-usual forecast.
What to know
- Almost 75% of England remains in drought after an exceptionally dry spring and summer plus repeated heatwaves.
- The Environment Agency says about 120% of typical rainfall is needed between now and April 2027 for all areas to recover.
- Even under the most likely wetter-autumn scenario, Devon, Cornwall and East Anglia could still be in drought by spring 2027; there is roughly a one-in-four chance half of England remains in drought then.
- Reservoir storage stands at just under 57%, about a fifth below the seasonal norm, and four areas of Scotland plus all of Wales face significant water scarcity or drought status.
“A few weeks of rain cannot reverse the deficit we face from the very dry spring and summer. We still need everyone to use a little less water to speed up the drought recovery.”
Philip Duffy, Environment Agency Chief Executive · BBC ↗ · Sep 16
Philip Duffy Chief Executive, Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency UK government body monitoring drought conditionsMet Office UK national weather service
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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background
Environment Agency says seven months of heavy rain needed to end drought — New EA research finds almost three-quarters of England still in drought after a dry spring, summer and heatwaves, and says about 120% of typical rainfall is needed between now and April 2027 for all areas to recover.
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Commentator links drought report to data-centre water use
A Mastodon post reacting to the story contrasts the seven-month rain requirement with the UK government's simultaneous classification of data centres as national infrastructure whose water use is 'necessary.'
“Meanwhile, in unrelated news, the Govt. claims Data Centres are national infrastructure, and their draining of local water sources 'necessary'!”
— ChrisMayLA6 -
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What would it take to reverse the drought experienced across the UK (albeit unevenly)? The Environmental Agency reckons we need seven(!) months of above average rain over the winter to make up for the shortfall(s) in rain.... and while a wetter winter is being forecast, it doesn't look likely that will be sufficient. Meanwhile, in unrelated news…
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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Thames water not getting renationalised was due to their creditors saying they’d sue the government for their debts (which Thames water wouldn’t even have had if not chronically mismanaged for profit)…. Apparently the same creditors pursued Argentina’s government for 10 years straight over some debts. Thing is though… Our government could…
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# BBCNews - UK weather: At least seven months of relentless rain needed to end drought in England https://www. bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cqv gy1lejp7ro
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Reddit commenter questions El Niño link to UK forecast
A commenter disputes the article's suggestion that the current El Niño is influencing the UK's wetter-autumn outlook, noting the UK's distance from the phenomenon's usual epicentre.
“Interesting, because the Uk is more or less on the opposite end of the planet from the phenomenon.”
— FastFooer -
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# BBC # News At least seven months of relentless rain needed to end drought, research shows
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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Interesting, because the Uk is more or less on the opposite end of the planet from the phenomenon.
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What people are saying 1 voices from 1 site · best of 6 · verbatim
- Sep 17
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It’s not that we’re incapable of the actual building and maintenance. It’s Privatisation and Shareholders.