England is on the brink of a widespread drought next year unless it has a wet winter, warns the Environment Agency. Yorkshire and the Midlands are still in the grip of a drought following this year's dry spring and summer, coupled with a series of heatwaves, while large parts of the country are experiencing 'exceptionally dry conditions', and the North West is recovering.
A drought is only declared over when water levels are fully replenished. However, England has experienced below-average rainfall for eight out of the ten months this year, with only January and September seeing above-average rain.
The country has received just 83% of the average rainfall from January to October, enduring the driest spring in 132 years and the hottest summer on record. Despite recent rainfall, the situation remains 'precarious', according to the Environment Agency. If the winter proves drier than usual, much or all of the country could be facing a drought by next spring.
This could lead to hosepipe bans, impacts on crops and wildlife, and an increased risk of wildfires as the summer progresses. Dry conditions also increase the risk of flash flooding when rain does eventually fall, as dry soils struggle to absorb heavy downpours, leading to runoff and potential floodwaters.
This warning comes as the Met Office predicts heavy rain through Saturday, but also forecasts a higher-than-usual likelihood of dry conditions over the three months from November to January, which could exacerbate the drought conditions.
Environment Agency director of water Helen Wakeham said: "There will be a drought next year, unless we get sustained rainfall through the winter. The severity of that drought will depend both on the weather and the actions we take over winter following this very dry year.
"The public have been brilliant in using a little less water this summer and following the restrictions in some parts of the country. I would urge people to continue to be as efficient as possible with their water use this winter - even if it is raining outside. Our wildlife, our rivers and our public water supplies depend on it."