17/05/2011

It has been announced that the Environment Agency will review its drought plans following a drought summit, convened by Defra chief Caroline Spelman, which took place yesterday (16th May).

While the lack of rain has severely affected some areas in the UK, Spelman remained optimistic that water companies could cope with the dry weather and maintained that it is too early to ascertain what the effect of the weather will be on farmers. Spelman said, "We're not in a drought yet, although the severity of dry conditions differs from place to place. I have asked the Environment Agency to report next week on the likelihood of a drought in the longer term, and how it might affect our farmers, our food industry and consumers."

She continued, “The Environment Agency, together with the water industry, are going to provide me with an update on water supplies and they are also going to review their drought plans. I have also arranged a further meeting of those who get their water from rivers to find immediate steps they can take to make that water go further - not just to deal with the current dry weather, but also to help inform longer term resilience issues for the future."

Speaking on Midlands Today after yesterday’s Drought Summit, Spelman, who is MP for Meriden in the West Midlands, admitted the weather was already having a marked effect on the region’s inhabitants; “This is the most water stressed region at the moment, but nonetheless the water companies remain reasonably confident that they can get through the summer without restrictions.” She did, however, recommend that people take measures to curb their personal water use in advance of what looks to be a dry summer.

Just 61% of the average amount of rain has fallen in the UK in the past three months. Provisional figures show that East Anglia and the Midlands have had the driest over winter period since 1975-76, an incredibly severe drought year, which was caused by dry weather beginning in September 1975.

Press announce heatwave in coming weeks

Several UK newsmedia companies have this week predicted a heatwave, which they claim will begin over the weekend and could see temperatures matching last year’s highs of 28.9C for May. Positive Weather Solutions’ senior forecaster Jonathan Powell told The Daily Mail, “This is an astonishing year so far and may well continue to turn up more surprises. May is outperforming expectations, as did March and April.”

Powell said, “There will be some rain during the rest of May in the north and west but not nearly enough to stave off drought concerns.” This May has been 2.6C warmer than average.

However, the Met Office contends Powell’s claims, stating that temperatures over the coming weeks will remain cool in the north and west, although it acknowledges that the south and east may see above-average daytime temperatures.