The risk of drought as England faces a drier year

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England and Wales have registered the driest start for decades, with river levels well below its historical average and the reservoirs were exhausted, feeding the fears of a summer drought.

The year until May 13, only 225 mm of rain have fallen to England and Wales, 29 percent below the long -term average, according to an analysis of Financial Times of Met Office data.

By this metric, in 2025 it has been the drier Year since 1997 and the seventh year more intended since the comparable data began in 1931.

Rivers, soil, and reservoirs have been greatly affected by the poorly reasonable rainfall, according to the monthly report of the water situation published on Wednesday by the Environment Agency.

The flow in two thirds of the rivers has been classified as “below normal” for this time of year, with the rivers in the north of England. Six places in northern England recorded its lowest average flow of April, including the Don a Doncaster and Mersey river in Ashton Weir.

The Environment Agency has warned of an “average” risk of a summer drought and said that water companies could have to implement measures, including Hospipe’s bans.

Richard Thompson, Deputy Director of the Environment Agency, said he hoped to see that more people reduce their water consumption.

“The change climate It means we will see more summer droughts in the coming decades, “he said.” The last two years were some of the most wetter for England, but the driest conditions earlier this year means that a drought is a possibility and we must prepare us. ”

England has had its driest march since 1961, while April saw half of its normal rainfall.

The storage of reservoirs in England remained 84 percent complete at the end of April, with most places classified as “normal” for this time of year.

In the last drought in 2022, the deposits were 90 percent complete at the end of April. That year, five water companies imposed hospipe bans on 19 million people on conserving water for drinking water and wastewater services.

The Department of the Environment said that the levels are lower in the north. “The reservoir levels are significantly low or exceptionally low in the north -east and north -England,” he said. “Both regions have seen that their driest began in the year since 1929”.

Some farmers are increasingly concerned with the potential impact on their crops if recent drought continues in summer.

“The lack of substantial rain in recent weeks begins to consider some concerns, although the image of the sectors of agriculture is mixed,” said the vice president of the Union of National Farmers, said Rachel Hallos.

“Farmers in some parts of the country have begun irrigating long before normal,” but added that there were “good groundwater stores” after “wet autumn and winter.”

At least three water companies have begun to take steps to tackle the potential drought in the coming months: Yorkshire Water, United Usets and Severn Trent.

Chris Weston, Chief Executive Officer of Thames Water, the largest water company in Britain, said on Tuesday that he trusted that customers would not “fade away” water. “

However, he added: “I am not sure that we will not have to restrict the use, because this will depend on what the weather is and the rainfall that happens between now and the summer.”

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