Hosepipe ban warning after driest start to spring in six decades
England faces a "medium risk" of drought this summer due to the driest start to spring in over six decades, prompting warnings of potential hosepipe bans.
Rainfall in England from February to April was the lowest since 1956, with April rainfall 50 per cent below the long-term average.
Northern England experienced even drier conditions, with some areas having the driest start to the year since 1929.
River flows are exceptionally low in 14 locations, primarily in northern England, while reservoir levels are also lower than normal.
Water companies are taking measures like repairing leaks and transferring water between regions, while urging customers to conserve water.
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The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
UK has warmest spring on record and driest in 50 years as climate change bites
The UK has recorded its warmest spring on record and its driest in more than 50 years, provisional Met Office figures show. The three months from March to May were also the sunniest spring on record for the UK, the figures reveal. The figures come after north-west England became the first region in the country to declare a drought following the exceptionally dry spring, farmers struggled to grow crops, and millions of households were warned they could face hosepipe bans this summer without sustained rainfall. And environmental campaigners said the latest data was a 'stark warning' that climate change was no longer a distant threat, but one which needed immediate action. Spring temperatures surpassed the long term average by 1.4C and beat the previous warmest spring in 2024, in records dating back to 1884. The Met Office said that eight of the 10 warmest springs on record had occurred since 2000 and the three warmest had been since 2017, in a sign of the changing climate. And the organisation warned that seas around the UK had experienced a marine heatwave, as sea surface temperatures reached record highs for April and May and with 'unprecedented conditions' of as much as 4C warmer than usual in some areas. By mid-May, the UK was experiencing its driest spring in more than 100 years, and although recent wet weather has eased conditions slightly, this year still ranks as the sixth driest since records began in 1836. With rainfall 40% below the average, it was the driest spring in more than 50 years across the UK, while England saw its driest spring in more than 100 years. Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: 'The UK's climate continues to change. What's particularly notable about spring 2025 is the combination of record warmth and sunshine, alongside very low rainfall. 'This spring shows some of the changes we're seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent. 'The data clearly shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather.' The Met Office figures show temperatures in the UK provisionally averaged 9.51C across March, April and May, just above the previous spring record of 9.37C, which was set only last year. The next warmest springs were in 2011 (9.12C), 2014 (9.02C) and 2007 (9.02C). All four nations experienced their warmest spring on record, with temperatures 1.64C above the long-term average in Northern Ireland, 1.56C above average in Scotland, 1.39C in Wales and 1.35C in England. It was also incredibly dry, with an average of 128.2mm of rain falling in the UK across March, April and May, the lowest spring total since 1974 (123.2mm) and the sixth lowest for spring since Met Office rainfall records began in 1836. The driest UK spring on record was in 1852, when just 100.7mm rain was measured. England endured its second driest spring on record this year, with just 75.8mm rain, behind only 1893 (65.7mm), while Wales saw its sixth driest spring, with 145.8mm of rain. Alec Hutchings, WWF's chief climate adviser, said: 'This new Met Office data is a stark warning that climate change is no longer a distant threat – it's here now and it needs immediate action. 'The UK Government needs a clear, credible plan to reduce emissions and put people at the heart of climate policy. It's time to unlock the investment to a low-carbon future and turn the temperature down. 'Climate action is an economic opportunity to futureproof our economy and support businesses and communities of the future.' Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank said the rate at which climate records were falling was 'relentless'. He pointed to the hottest day ever in the UK in 2022, with 'dire impacts' on potato and vegetable growers, the wettest winter on record in 2024, following the wettest 18-month spell, which devastated the harvest, he said. 'And now farmers are having to contend with England's driest spring in over a century, that has already damaged crops, threatening another poor harvest this year.' He called for better support for farmers to adapt to extremes amid concerns the sustainable farming budget is to be cut in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review next week.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Record-breaking spring weather: How the UK nations compare
All four UK nations saw their warmest spring on record this year, but experienced different levels of rainfall and sunshine. Here the PA news agency looks at how the nations compare, using the latest data from the Met Office. – England Just 75.8mm of rain fell in England across March, April and May this year, making it the second driest spring on record, behind only 1893 (65.7mm rain). It is a stark contrast with last year, when England experienced 263.7mm rain over these three months – enough to make it the fifth wettest spring on record. England saw 221.1mm in the first five months of the year, the lowest total for this period since 1976 (212.4mm). Met Office rainfall data begins in 1836. The mean temperature in England this spring was 10.23C, the warmest on record and just ahead of the previous record of 10.21C which was set only last year. Eight of England's top 10 warmest springs have all occurred since 2000, four of them in the past six years. Met Office temperature data begins in 1884. It was the second sunniest spring on record for England, with 691.6 hours of sunshine across the three months – just behind the record of 692.6 hours set in 2020. Met Office sunshine data starts in 1910. – Scotland An average of 204.1mm rain fell in Scotland this spring, comfortably outside the top 10 driest on record (ranking in 22nd place) and well above the all-time driest (108.4mm in 1852). It was the driest spring in Scotland since 2001. Scotland saw 396.9mm rain in the first five months of 2025, the lowest total for this period since 2001. The mean temperature in Scotland this spring was 8.23C, the warmest on record. The previous record was 7.97C in 2024. As with England, eight of Scotland's top 10 warmest springs have occurred since 2000. It was the sunniest spring on record for Scotland, with 593.7 hours across the three months. The previous record was 520.4C in 2020. – Wales Wales saw its sixth driest spring on record this year, with 145.8mm rain. It was the driest spring since 1990. The lowest spring rainfall recorded for Wales was 110.5mm in 1893. Total rainfall in Wales in 2025 to the end of May is 382.8mm, the lowest for the first five months of the year since 2010. The mean temperature in Wales this spring was 9.69C, the warmest on record. The previous record was 9.66C in 1893, with 2024 (9.43C) now in third place. As with England and Scotland, eight of Wales' top 10 warmest springs have been since 2000. It was the sunniest spring on record for Wales, with 660.4 hours across the three months, ahead of the previous record of 647.1 hours in 2020. – Northern Ireland An average of 168.6mm rain fell in Northern Ireland this spring, just inside the top 40 lowest totals on record. The driest spring on record here was in 1837, when just 98.3mm rain was measured. Total rainfall in Northern Ireland in 2025 to the end of May is 315.2mm, the lowest for this period since 1987. The mean temperature this spring was 9.78C, the warmest on record. The previous record was 9.42C in 1893, with 2024 (9.28C) in third place. Eight of Northern Ireland's top 10 warmest springs have occurred since 2000. This includes 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. It was the sunniest spring on record for Northern Ireland, with 614.3 hours across the three months, beating the previous record of 559.0 hours in 2020.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire fire service records five-year high in incidents
A fire service has said incidents across the county have been at a record five-year and Fire Rescue Service (CFRS) said it attended to more than 160 fires in March, compared with 111 the previous year, and more than 200 fires in April, compared with 131 in 2024. It recorded a 13% increase in incidents overall in the last 12 months, with 1,911 across the Ball, the head of community fire safety at the service, said: "This is a sharp rise and certainly a cause for concern." The service added the five-year average for incidents recorded for March was about 135 and 162 for April. CFRS said many of these fires had happened in a house, mostly starting in the kitchen due to cooking or from appliances. It added its firefighters had responded to 200 outdoor fires over this period of time, many of which were started attended a fire recently in Huntingdonshire involving a vanity mirror, which reflected the sunlight and had started a fire that caused significant damage. Mr Ball said: "One way residents can help keep themselves and their families safe in their homes is to use our online home fire safety check tool."We often see fires increase as the weather changes, with people getting their gardens ready for the summer."We have seen a few incidents recently where appliances, such as air fryers, are being heated up by a hob being accidentally switched on."There are precautions people can take to help reduce the risk of a deliberate fire."Things like making sure that lighters and matches are kept well out of reach of children, as well as making sure [children] stay clear of disused or derelict buildings, can also make a big difference." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
