Drought declared in Yorkshire after months of dry weather

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 13:19 · Archive

The Environment Agency has declared drought in Yorkshire following prolonged dry weather in spring and summer.

The Environment Agency has declared drought across Yorkshire following months of unusually dry weather. The region officially entered drought status on Friday after being classified as in a period of prolonged dry weather since the end of July.

The drought was triggered by low water levels in reservoirs and rivers across the region. Yorkshire Water said it was not planning to introduce water restrictions for customers at this stage despite the drought declaration. Andy Shaw, head of water production, treatment and energy at Yorkshire Water, said the Environment Agency's decision reflected dry conditions across the region but "does not mean water restrictions are currently needed".

Vicki Townend, the Environment Agency's area environment manager for Yorkshire, said the region had experienced its fifth driest April to September period on record. She explained that the ongoing lack of rainfall meant the flow in rivers and groundwater levels in certain parts of the area were very low and had reached the trigger for declaring a drought.

The declaration follows an unusually dry September, with the lack of rainfall continuing into autumn. This summer saw Britain's hottest consistent temperatures on record, with successive heatwaves and long spells of no rainfall in some areas.

Townend said that even if the region receives a few weeks of rain, it cannot quickly reverse the effects of the prolonged dry weather experienced in spring and summer. The Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement Yorkshire's drought plan.

Yorkshire now joins all of central, southern and eastern England in drought status. The North East and North West remain in prolonged dry weather. Townend urged people to be aware of the impacts of drought and use "a little less water" to speed up the area's recovery, noting that as climate change impacts continue, heavier rainfall and drier summers will become more frequent.

How it is being reported

• Drought declared in Yorkshire as Government issues urgent pleaDrought has been declared in Yorkshire due to a lack of spring and summer rainfallThe Mirror · 9 Oct, 13:14
• Drought declared in Yorkshire after dry weatherEnvironment Agency says Yorkshire saw its fifth driest period on record between April and September.BBC News · 9 Oct, 13:00
• Drought declared in Yorkshire amid low reservoir and river levelsThe move follows an unusually dry September.Evening Standard · 9 Oct, 12:37
• Drought declared in Yorkshire after record-breaking dry weather over spring and summerA drought has been declared in Yorkshire following record-breaking dry weather in the spring and summer, the Environment Agency has said.Daily Mail · 9 Oct, 12:27
• Drought declared in Yorkshire after unprecedented periods of dry weather this summerDrought has been declared in Yorkshire due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers following prolonged periods of dry weather in the spring and summer, the Environment Agency said. This summer saw Britain's hottest consistent temperatures on record, with much of the country paced in drought conditions for extended periods, as households faced hosepipe bans en masse. Water companies cited demand outweighing supply, as reservoirs and other vital infrastructure fell far below optimal capacity. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say MORE TO FOLLOW... Our Standards: The GB News Editorial CharterGB News · 9 Oct, 12:26
• Drought declared in Yorkshire as reservoirs and rivers run low after months of dry weatherThe drought in Yorkshire was declared on FridayThe Independent · 9 Oct, 12:24
• Drought declared in YorkshireDrought has been declared in Yorkshire due to a lack of spring and summer rainfall, the Environment Agency has said.Sky News · 9 Oct, 12:14

In this story: Yorkshire · Environment Agency · Yorkshire Water · Vicki Townend · Andy Shaw · England

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