'Weather whiplash' warning as England recovers from drought

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England has recovered from drought after four months of above average rainfall, but officials are concerned about future dry spells.

A wetter-than-normal February saw England receive 170% of the long-term average rainfall, the Environment Agency said.

A regular government-led meeting of water stakeholders noted that while wetter than normal months had been positive for water supplies, they had "caused devastating flooding" in many areas.

The South West recorded the second-highest December to February winter rainfall since records began in 1871.

On Monday, East Anglia became the final area to move back to a "normal" water level status.

The Environment Agency said the risk of drought in 2026 was now low, but there was still the possibility of "flash drought", caused by a sudden combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures - conditions seen in summer 2022.

However, officials warned that the country will see increased "weather whiplash", with rapid swings from droughts to floods as a consequence of climate change.

March has been drier than normal, only receiving 53% of the long-term average rainfall for the month so far.

Reservoir storage is now at 95% in England, slightly above average for the time of year, although some reservoirs in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire are still below average, officials said.

Vehicles are partially submerged after the River Thames burst its banks at Richmond in February. Pic Reuters

The announcements follows the latest meeting of the National Drought Group of the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers' Union, Canal and River Trust, anglers, hydrologists and conservation experts.

Much of England entered drought last year after the driest spring for 132 years, and a summer which saw record temperatures and multiple heatwaves.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said that "we must still talk about drought" - despite recent wet weather.

Water companies are finalising their statutory drought plans, which are produced every five years and detail how water supplies will be protected during dry weather.

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