Drought and hosepipe bans remain despite wettest week since early February

Despite recent heavy rainfall across the UK, drought conditions and temporary hosepipe bans remain in effect in many areas. The Environment Agency notes that reservoir levels continue to decline, and significant sustained rainfall is required to normalize water supplies.
Why it matters
The persistence of drought despite seasonal rain underscores the long-term impact of climate change on water security.
Image source, EPA By Simon King Lead Weather Presenter Published 2 minutes ago In the last few days of August and start of September, more rain fell than any other week since early February, according to the Environment Agency.
Despite the change to more unsettled and wetter conditions, all of Wales and most of England remains in drought.
And water companies are reminding customers that temporary hosepipe bans are still in force despite the rainfall and decreased demand with the cooler weather.
More rain is in the forecast this week and while that will be welcome, sustained rainfall is needed to reverse drought conditions.
While we had a brief return of summer heat over the weekend for some, the weather since the start of September - and meteorological autumn - has been more unsettled.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in