Drought looming

[GranpaB]

Seems like a drought could be officially declared on Friday, with a potential ban on non-essential domestic and commercial use.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-6249178...

[Terminator X]

Don't panic!

"Droughts are a relatively common feature of the weather in the United Kingdom, with one around every 5–10 years on average."

TX.

[g4ry13]

This country is having a great summer for once.

[Antony Moxey]

Yet apparently either next week or the week after it’s forecast to righteously piss down pretty much everywhere. Stop panicking over everything.

[dangerousB]

g4ry13 said:

This country is having a great summer for once.

Which everyone should welcome.

Been out on the water earlier this evening and heading back to the marina watching the sun going down - it was blummin' fabulous.

Long may it continue!

[Wills2]

Still nice and green in the north we've had 70-80% of annual rainfall during July.





I spoke too soon Yorkshire water announcing a hose pipe ban for the 26th August, clearly drier than I think.

Edited by Wills2 on Friday 12th August 12:42

[g4ry13]

Wills2 said:

Still nice and green in the north we've had 70-80% of annual rainfall during July.

My garden and local area looks like the Serengeti! I'm half-expecting to find a lion hiding in the long grass.

[LukeBrown66]

I have no known a summer like this for a very long time, we have had literally no rain for 2 months, every field is yellow, there is no grass, the trees are green yes, but everything looks parched, dry and tinderbox ready to go.

we seemingly have 4 or 5 days heatwave conditions again now with perhaps more to come in late August and September, it seems to know no end.

A truly miserable experience if you struggle in the heat as I do sadly.

[PositronicRay]

Walking in the cotswolds yesterday, reminded me of french holidays years ago. I wouldn't want to be in france this summer though.

[irc]

"Thames Water did propose a reservoir at Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 2006, plans for which were opposed by the Environment Agency on the grounds that it was not needed. It has remained on hold ever since. Proposals for a national water grid have similarly come to nothing. In 2006, the Environment Agency scotched the idea, saying it would cost £15 billion to build a pipeline capable of bringing 1,100 megalitres a day from the North Pennines to London, and that building reservoirs would be more cost-effective."

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/water-woes-who...

Is that the same Environment Agency that caused the flooding on the Somerset Levels after it stopped dredging?

https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegrap...

[g4ry13]

I give it a few days before the tabloids put out pictures of empty supermarket shelves and people stocking up on bottled water.

[fido]

Rain coming next week albeit light showers. Fingers crossed.

[Dog Star]

Wills2 said:

Still nice and green in the north we've had 70-80% of annual rainfall during July.

Yep. My lawns are green and lush. We had that last 40C heatwave which lasted two whole days. Loved it. Then it has absolutely bladdered down - it’s rained every single day since - til this latest heat wave started the other day. This one appears to last til Monday, then it’s back to pissing down again.

I’d love two months without rain - hell! I’d love two weeks without it.

[survivalist]

PositronicRay said:

Walking in the cotswolds yesterday, reminded me of french holidays years ago. I wouldn't want to be in france this summer though.

I’m in France now. Need to get out early as by 1pm it’s roasting. Lucky enough to be staying somewhere with a pool and shade, but sightseeing is no fun in this heat. Pretty sure my children are grateful as they hate that ‘boring’ stuff anyway.

[andy43]

survivalist said:

PositronicRay said:

Walking in the cotswolds yesterday, reminded me of french holidays years ago. I wouldn't want to be in france this summer though.

I’m in France now. Need to get out early as by 1pm it’s roasting. Lucky enough to be staying somewhere with a pool and shade, but sightseeing is no fun in this heat. Pretty sure my children are grateful as they hate that ‘boring’ stuff anyway.

We were in the Algarve in July. Last time for peak summer I think - too hot to do anything apart from flop about in the pool until about 6pm, then not enough time left in the evening to do sight seeing, food, beach etc.
September’s where it’s at!

[survivalist]

andy43 said:

We were in the Algarve in July. Last time for peak summer I think - too hot to do anything apart from flop about in the pool until about 6pm, then not enough time left in the evening to do sight seeing, food, beach etc.
September’s where it’s at!

This might be part of the problem. Our last holiday to France was in 2019 and in June. 3 years later and they are in school, so July or August are the only option. Combining the wrong month with a heatwave has certainly changed the holiday dynamic.

[MrBarry123]

dangerousB said:

Which everyone should welcome.

Been out on the water earlier this evening and heading back to the marina watching the sun going down - it was blummin' fabulous.

Long may it continue!

Quite!

It’s been lovely to have a prolonged spell of warm and dry weather.

[Smollet]

What I found hard to understand is that some water companies saying they’ll impose a hosepipe ban in say a week's time. They know it’s no going to get any better quickly so why not impose one immediately?

[crankedup5]

Following the 1976 drought it was announced that the U.K. would be investing in the water supply infrastructure. Usual outcome.

[alock]

Don't worry, I have a short UK holiday booked next week. I guarantee it will rain.