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England Drought Ends: Weather Whiplash Warnings Rise
24 Mar
Summary
- England has exited drought due to four months of above-average rainfall.
- Climate change increases risk of 'weather whiplash' between floods and droughts.
- Water companies must fix burst pipes and prepare drought plans if needed.
England has successfully emerged from drought conditions following a period of consistently above-average rainfall over the past four months. This significant precipitation has led to widespread flooding in various regions, contrasting sharply with the severe drought experienced last year. The National Drought Group, comprising various experts, confirmed that all areas in England are now classified as having normal water status.
However, the Environment Agency cautions that the risk of 'flash drought' remains, a phenomenon driven by a sudden combination of low rainfall and high temperatures. Furthermore, climate change is predicted to increase 'weather whiplash,' characterized by more rapid and extreme shifts between drought and flood events. While reservoir storage is at 95% nationally, some remain below average, and water companies are instructed to continue fixing burst pipes and prepare contingency drought plans.
