Another hot dry spell could see drought conditions return in 2023, despite winter rainfall replenishing most water levels.
That was the message from the multi-stakeholder National Drought Group when it met on Friday. The group said further steady rainfall will be needed to ensure reservoirs are in a good position ahead of the summer. Rainfall over the next three months will be vital in reducing drought risk.
Among the information arising from the meeting were:
only two of the Environment Agency’s areas – East Anglia and Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – now remain in "drought" status, with most now "recovering";
as of the beginning of February, total reservoir capacity across the country was 88% from 49% at the end of September 2022, when reservoirs were at their lowest following the drought through summer; and
there has been a dry start to the month – with low rainfall across England since the end of January – meaning 63% of rivers are currently below normal levels for this time of year. Some storage reservoirs are still lower than anticipated and groundwater levels in Norfolk are only now beginning to rise slow.
The National Drought Group said its members are planning for the worst case scenario of another hot, dry spell this summer and are managing water resources to reduce the risk of drought measures such as temporary use bans and taking additional water from the environment being required again this year.
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