2012 UK Drought

[The PIT]

According to breakfast news Yorkshire has joined the drought effected area. Ah found the link http://www.guardian....g?newsfeed=true

Edited March 28, 2012 by The PIT

[Coast]

According to breakfast news Yorkshire has joined the drought effected area.

Yorkshire Water said it did not anticipate any restrictions such as hosepipe bans at the moment. The company said its reservoirs were at 94 per cent, which was normal for the time of year, but groundwater levels in East Yorkshire were around a fifth below usual levels.

The Met Office said the “prolonged spell of exceptionally warm temperatures†will continue, with highs of 24C (75F). Scotland has broken its March maximum temperature twice this week, most recently with 23.4C (74.12) recorded in Aboyne on Tuesday.

Central and southern areas are due to experience the hottest temperatures, while the whole of the UK will enjoy “unbroken sunshineâ€.

Some areas have not even seen a cloud since the weekend, with the Met Office reporting “wall-to-wall blue skiesâ€.

But the fine weather conditions could be dangerous for water resources. Trevor Bishop, head of water resources at the Environment Agency, warned that drought would affect more parts of the country without well-above average rainfall in the coming weeks, with the South West and the Midlands most at risk.

"The Environment Agency must balance the water needs of people, farmers, businesses and the environment and we are working with businesses, farmers and water companies to plan ahead to meet the challenges of a continued drought."

The warm weather is also a danger for forest fires. Last year fires broke out across the UK in late April but this year they have already started in March. There have been hundreds of calls to fire crews across Wales after the warm weather caused numerous blazes on heathland.

http://www.telegraph...-continues.html

[Summer Sun]

Parts Of Yorkshire in Drought

Drought has spread in England, with parts of East and South Yorkshire now officially affected.

The Environment Agency said public water supplies should not be affected, but lower river and groundwater levels meant businesses and farmers taking water from rivers should use it wisely.

The agency has already declared drought in areas of the South East and East Anglia.

Seven water companies in those areas are to impose hosepipe bans on 5 April.

Yorkshire Water said it did not anticipate any restrictions such as hosepipe bans for the time being.

Drought has spread in England, with parts of East and South Yorkshire now officially affected.

The Environment Agency said public water supplies should not be affected, but lower river and groundwater levels meant businesses and farmers taking water from rivers should use it wisely.

The agency has already declared drought in areas of the South East and East Anglia.

Seven water companies in those areas are to impose hosepipe bans on 5 April.

Yorkshire Water said it did not anticipate any restrictions such as hosepipe bans for the time being.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17533235

[rob48]

Thank goodness the North East isn't affected by the drought and has plenty of water.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17524198

Of course, Yorkshire's not in the North East!

[Aaron]

Hehe, no drought in West Yorkshire

[Coast]

Hehe, no drought in West Yorkshire

Yet.........

[rob48]

Max Hastings, writing in the Daily Mail, has been playing tennis every evening this week, how lovely......

Here's his view on the drought:

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1qIdJ22XN

I only had to read the first sentence to realise I know just how he feels.

[The PIT]

Well the dams are full according to a friend of mine who went to Ladybower this weekend I'll pop up soon and have a look in a couple of days time.

[summer blizzard]

Hehe, no drought in West Yorkshire

True, though i noticed today that half of the trees which should normally be in leaf have not sprouted leaves yet. Perhaps because of a lack of water?

Reservoirs will be fine though and the river in the city looks normal.

[Bobby]

It's been dry here lately but nowhere near drought levels. The reservoirs of the Brecon Beacons were pretty much full the last time I looked several weeks ago. Hopefully some rain will be on the way next week looking at the models. This dry spell has been going on 2-3 years now, can't go on for much longer surely.

[Coast]

Drought spreads north after scorching week

FARMERS up and down the UK were left praying for rain this week as drought conditions spread to the north of England.

Swathes of East and South Yorkshire from Chesterfield up to Scarborough are now officially in drought, environment chiefs warned, with areas around Doncaster, Hull and Driffield some of the worst hit. The regions join the South East and eastern England, where hosepipe bans will come into force next week (April 5) in a bid to save water. But this week temperatures soared all over the UK and the north of England and Scotland basked in unseasonably warm weather.

The lack of rain combined with tinder box conditions also saw blazes rage in several parts of the countryside. Large fires were reported across the south-east, and areas of North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Wales. Scotland broke its March maximum temperature twice in two days, as the mercury hit 22.9C (73.22) on Monday and 23.4C (74.12) in the village of Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday. Some areas of Yorkshire have seen the driest 12 months since 1910, and with river levels continuing to fall, the Environment Agency (EA) appealed to farmers that take water from rivers to look for ways to use water wisely, and share the resources that are available.

Fraser Hugill, who runs a 120 hectare (300 acre) beef and arable farm in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, said: “We’re certainly praying for a bit of rain at the moment. “We haven’t had any significant rainfall since the end of February. “Our fertiliser has gone on the field so it is just sat there at the moment. It’s not washing in so crops aren’t taking it up.â€

Mr Hugill, who grows wheat, barley and spring beans, said the next few months would be ‘critical’ for his crops. “We can manage the situation at the moment because in Yorkshire we are used to working with very different and changeable conditions,†he said. “There is moisture deep down for crops to get established, but if the dry weather continues over the next two to three months we could have problems because they are the key growth stages.â€

Charles Platts, who farms beef and sheep with some cereals on the South Yorkshire border, echoed Mr Hugill’s concerns. “We have been having problems since last year’s dry summer,†he said. “Our forage stocks were low so through the winter - which was also very dry - we had to buy in a lot of extra feed. All this has had big financial implications.†But on the upside, Mr Platts said the balmy weather had come in good time for lambing season.Mr Platts added: “The lambs absolutely love it. It’s been fantastic for them.â€

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/renewables/drought-spreads-north-after-scorching-week/45927.article

[chionomaniac]

I just bought some grass seed and topsoil to cultivate and plant this weekend. I have a feeling the drought will break in April. Big Time.

[Terminal Moraine]

If the CFS forecast is anything to go by the drought conditions may be at least alleviated during the remainder of the year.

They've been consistently forecasting well above average rainfall, particularly for England south of Cumbria, for weeks and the latest update shows no change with well above average rainfall from April through to December.

Everything crossed at Chateau Terminal on that.

[leicsnow]

Recent GFS runs seem to be starting a new trend, predicting next to no rainfall over the next two weeks or so in the drought areas. The drought could well continue...

Edited April 2, 2012 by Tellow

[Summer Sun]

Recent GFS runs seem to be starting a new trend, predicting next to no rainfall over the next two weeks or so in the drought areas. The drought could well continue...

The drought is likely to continue to at least October, any rainfall in the summer is no good as it evaporates very quickly

Edited April 2, 2012 by Gavin D

[johnholmes]

I'm not sure where you get that idea from Gavin other than some hopecasting for high pressure as usual?

[sn0wman]

The drought is likely to continue to at least October, any rainfall in the summer is no good as it evaporates very quickly

Guess this was the case in 2007 then?

[The PIT]

I was thinking about 2007 as well.

[Aaron]

I'm not sure where you get that idea from Gavin other than some hopecasting for high pressure as usual?

Yes.. I just tend to overlook most of his posts to be honest (no offence intended, honest.)

[Summer Sun]

I'm not sure where you get that idea from Gavin other than some hopecasting for high pressure as usual?

It was in todays papers

[Summer Sun]

Latest Drought risk map for 2012 updated in March

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Risk_map_for_web_Mar_12.pdf

[Nick L]

It was in todays papers

You're not helping your argument with that post!!

[TEITS]

The drought is likely to continue to at least October, any rainfall in the summer is no good as it evaporates very quickly

Yes I agree.

Even if this summer brings above average rainfall, my location is likely to remain in a drought due to such a prolonged dry period. From November 2010 to April 1st 2012 I have recorded only 450mm. So what my location really needs is above average summer followed by a very wet Autumn/Winter.

[The PIT]

snipped as original comments removed, thanks.

Anyway back to the original question i guess a number of people are also intrigued as to how this conclusion other than newspapers was drawn. Newspapers aren't exactly the most reliable sources. Like when Sheffield flooded newspapers in our area saying we've never had rain like it before. A quick look at stats showed it wasn't uncommon.

Edited April 3, 2012 by IanM
Tidying up

[johnholmes]

If the CFS forecast is anything to go by the drought conditions may be at least alleviated during the remainder of the year.

They've been consistently forecasting well above average rainfall, particularly for England south of Cumbria, for weeks and the latest update shows no change with well above average rainfall from April through to December.

Everything crossed at Chateau Terminal on that.

Is that a white or are you able to manage a red at your altitude?