England records wettest week in two years after storms

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 00:21 · Archive

Storms Austen and Boelo brought England its wettest week in two years, yet much of the country remains in drought.

Storms Austen and Boelo delivered England's wettest week since October 2024. An average of 55mm of rain fell across England in the seven days to 27 October, with 76mm recorded in the North West and 87mm in the South West. River levels increased at all but two of the Environment Agency's monitoring sites, with the Dart at Austins Bridge in Devon classed as exceptionally high.

Storm Austen struck on 23 October with an amber weather warning for strong winds and rain across Cornwall and parts of Devon, alongside a yellow warning for central and southern England. Gusts reached nearly 80mph on the Isle of Wight. Storm Boelo followed on 24 October with an amber warning for wind over Scotland and a yellow warning for northern England. Both storms caused travel disruption and power cuts affecting thousands of homes.

The rainfall means England has received 11% more than its long-term average for October. However, the improvement has been unevenly distributed. The Environment Agency moved the North West out of drought into 'recovery' status, but elsewhere there has not been enough rain to refill most reservoirs. Eleven reservoirs are still classed as exceptionally low, including Wimbleball in Somerset and Ardingly in West Sussex, each at less than 20% of normal capacity.

Despite the wet week, parts of southern England remain in severe drought following the hot and dry summer. Hosepipe bans announced for millions of customers remain in place. The National Drought Group said it will take sustained and above-average rainfall over a seven-month period for conditions to return to normal.

Little further rain is expected in the coming weeks. High pressure is developing across the UK, bringing settled weather and very little rain forecast for the start of November, with the possibility of ten consecutive days without precipitation.

How it is being reported

• UK could see 10 days without rain after 'wettest week in two years'With high pressure developing across the UK, the start of November is looking very settled with no significant rain in the forecast.BBC Science · 31 Oct, 00:06
• Wettest week for two years but still not enough rain to get out of droughtAfter above average rainfall in October, reservoirs across England are still very low with much of the country remaining in drought, as Simon King explains.BBC News · 30 Oct, 14:12
• England records its wettest week for two years after storms Austen and Boelo bring heavy rain - yet parts of south remain officially in droughtAn average of 55mm of rain fell across England in the seven days preceding October 27, though as much as 76mm was recorded in the north-west and 87mm in the south-west.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 18:47
• Impact of storms sees wettest week in England for two yearsEngland has now received 11% more rainfall than the long-term average for October.Evening Standard · 29 Oct, 14:12

In this story: England · Storm Austen · Storm Boelo · Environment Agency · North West · South West · Isle of Wight · National Drought Group

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