Dry April Leaves Rivers Low, Sparking Summer Drought Worries in Southern England

After one of the driest Aprils on record, rivers across central and southern England are running below normal levels, raising concerns that parts of the country could face water shortages this summer. The latest UK hydrological survey shows that central and southern England, along with eastern Scotland, are expected to see notably low river flows over the next three months—a worrying sign if the dry spell continues. Other regions, including northwest and western Scotland, are predicted to have normal or above-normal river flows. April rainfall was 23% below the average, according to the Met Office. In East Anglia and the southeast, the deficit was even starker. Shoeburyness in Essex recorded its driest April ever, with just 0.6mm of rain—only 2% of the monthly norm. Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, both among the UK's most water-stressed areas, received less than 5% of their average rainfall. Farmers in the south and east are already uneasy. In Cambridgeshire, a local committee was warned that a water supply shortfall is expected. Cambridge is regularly called the driest city in the UK, getting about half the national average rainfall. Southern Water, serving 2.7 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, reported that April rainfall in its region was just 20% of the long-term average, and only 15% so far in May. Still, reservoir storage stands at 92%, and most rivers and groundwater stores remain stable, better than last year. A spokesperson said the company constantly monitors levels and prepares early for drought risks. The Met Office forecasts that the rest of May will likely be wetter than dry.