Rain coming but not enough - South-east saw a record-breaking drought

Rain coming but not enough
South-east saw a record-breaking drought

July rainfall anomaly map showing yellow and orange areas across the UK, Ireland and western Europe, indicating below-average rainfall on the colour scale.

August rainfall anomaly map showing below-average rainfall across Ireland, Scotland, and France, with wetter blue areas over central and eastern England.

September rainfall anomaly map showing wetter blue areas across Scotland and Ireland, with drier yellow regions over England, France, and Germany.

Two people walk across a vast expanse of dry yellow-brown grassland under a blue sky, with green trees lining the distant edge.

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July saw very little rainfall across the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe.

New figures confirm a record-breaking summer drought for south-east England.

Data from the Environment Agency has confirmed the driest three-month spell up to September ever for the south-east region into Hertfordshire and London.

From July to September, the south-east region saw just 54% of its expected summer rainfall resulting in hosepipe bans from six water companies which are still live now.

The drought is still biting elsewhere too. In the south-west, Wessex Water ended September with reservoirs at just 28% of total capacity. Lower than the levels seen in 1976.

In Yorkshire, the River Esk recorded its lowest mean flow for September on record, and with the county going through its fifth driest spring to summer season since 1871.

As we move deeper into autumn, rain is returning to the UK and Ireland, with a band moving through Friday morning, but more sustained rainfall is needed to full recover from the extraordinarily dry summer season.

Ryan Hathaway

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Rain coming but not enoughSouth-east saw a record-breaking drought

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Rain coming but not enough
South-east saw a record-breaking drought