River Levels Across The UK At Record Lows, W. Months Of Dry Weather Forecast
River levels across the UK have been at record lows and are likely to be “devastated”, as new data forecasts broadly dry weather until at least May. Campaigners have said the government and water companies have not done enough to conserve water supplies by building reservoirs and fixing leaks, as months of low rainfall could cause some areas to run out of water.
The monthly outlook from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology warns that extended dry conditions are more likely than not and that rivers are already suffering.
The report states: “River flows in February closely followed the rainfall pattern received, with normal to exceptionally low flows across the UK, with the exception of parts of the Scottish Highlands. Record-breaking low flows were recorded in the Trent, Warleggan and Annacloy, with exceptionally low flows seen across large parts of central and south-western England. River flows for March – and March, Apriland May as a whole – are likely to remain normal to below normal, with a high chance of exceptionally low flows in places.”
Groundwater levels are also an important measure of drought status, as it is often abstracted for farming and other purposes. The report predicts levels in many areas will be low: “Groundwater levels are likely to be normal to below normal across most of England and Wales for the next three months, and likely notably low in parts of the chalk of southern England and the Jurassic limestones.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/13/uk-river-levels-record-lows-forecast-dry-spring-water-companies