At least seven months of relentless rain needed to end drought, research shows
Summary
New research shows England needs at least seven months of above-average rainfall to end its drought by spring 2027. Despite some recent rain, most of England remains in drought due to a dry spring and summer, and water levels are still low.Key Facts
- Around 75% of England is still experiencing drought conditions.
- About 120% of usual rainfall is needed between now and April to end the drought everywhere in England.
- Some regions, like Devon, Cornwall, and East Anglia, may still face drought in spring 2027 even with wetter autumns.
- There is roughly a 25% chance that half of England could still be in drought next spring.
- Severe drought means serious water shortages affecting the environment, farms, people, and the economy; England hasn’t had a severe drought since 1976.
- Reservoirs in England are at about 57% capacity, which is lower than usual for this time of year.
- Scotland and Wales also face water shortages, with parts of Scotland at significant water scarcity.
- The Met Office forecasts a wetter-than-average autumn, partly influenced by the current strong El Niño weather pattern.
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