England Experiences Wettest Week in Two Years Amidst Lingering Drought Concerns
Storms Austen and Boelo bring widespread rain and disruption, but southern regions still face drought conditions.
England recorded its wettest week in two years, with an average of 55mm of rain falling across the country in the seven days preceding October 27. The downpours, brought by Storms Austen and Boelo, caused significant travel disruption, including cancelled trains and delayed flights, and forced some shops to close due to flooding.
The north-west received up to 76mm of rain, while the south-west saw as much as 87mm. River levels have risen at almost all monitored sites, with the Dart at Austins Bridge in Devon classified as 'extremely high.' This follows a period of extreme weather conditions, including Storm Ashley, which caused similar travel chaos.
Despite the widespread rain, particularly in the north, parts of southern England continue to grapple with drought conditions following the hottest British summer in decades. Several areas, including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, and West Sussex, had previously been declared in a 'severe drought.' Water companies have been urged to enhance drought planning as concerns about water supplies persist, with millions still subject to hosepipe bans.
Storage levels in reservoirs such as Wimbleball in Exmoor have plummeted, exposing dry land that was previously submerged. The intense weather also brought high winds, with gusts reaching speeds of 85mph. The severe weather resulted in tragic fatalities: a 60-year-old man was killed by a fallen tree in Dumfries, and a man in his 20s died when his car was crushed by a falling tree in north London. A woman, Sal Galloway, also died after being swept out to sea while walking her dog on the Isle of Wight.
In Scotland, towns like Dalmarnock in Glasgow and Largs experienced significant flooding, forcing businesses to close and causing extensive damage. One shop owner in Largs described how the water rose rapidly, inundating her property and ruining stock.
Across the UK, the storms left a significant number of homes without power. Over 800,000 homes experienced power cuts during the combined events of Storm Boelo and Austen, with an additional 161,400 homes affected over the weekend. The Met Office attributes the succession of storms to an 'particularly active' jet stream. The next storm to be officially named, should conditions escalate, would be Storm Chloe.