As dry as a bone: Reservoir levels fall and our parks turn brown in driest May since Victorian time
by Andrew Levy For The Daily Mail- Water levels are much lower than usual as Britain sees the driest May in 124 years
- Only 1.25in of rain has fallen on average this month, leaving parks dried out
- This is the least since 0.75in of 1896, but there is no plan for a hosepipe ban yet
- There has only been 0.23in of rain in the South East - drier than the Sahara
Late spring normally means lush lawns, verdant parks and brimming reservoirs. But it is very different this year – thanks to the driest May in 124 years.
A very un-British lack of rain has left the landscape looking as parched as it might appear at the end of a long, hot summer.
Water levels in reservoirs are also lower than usual, although there are no plans for a hosepipe ban... yet.
Only 1.25in (31.8mm) of rain has fallen on average across the UK so far this month, and forecasters say that total is unlikely to be added to significantly in the final few days of May.
This is the least since the 0.75in (19.1mm) of 1896, when Victoria was on the throne and less than the 1.27in (32.2mm) of 1989, following an unusually dry and sunny April.
In the South East there has been only 0.23in (5.8mm) – one tenth the average – making it drier than the Sahara.
Yesterday the effect could be seen in some of our best-loved open spaces.
In London, Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common looked more brown than green, as did Southsea Common in Portsmouth, while water levels at Lindley Wood reservoir near Otley in West Yorkshire were well down on normal.
And while those stuck at home during lockdown may have been able to make more use of the garden, it has led to a warning from water companies.
They say the increased demand, particularly from sprinklers and paddling pools, could mean lower tap pressure for millions of households, even though reservoirs have ample supplies due to the wet autumn and winter.
Affinity Water, which supplies Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and some London boroughs, said: ‘Demand during peak times can increase by 50 per cent. If demand increases then pressure can fluctuate.’
United Utilities, which covers a large part of the North West, said: ‘We encourage people to save water, especially as coronavirus is seeing more home water use.’
But Water UK, the trade body for the industry, said: ‘There are no plans for a hosepipe ban.’
Temperatures hit 26.3C (79.3F) at Heathrow yesterday and are forecast to reach 26C (79F) today, rising to 28C (82F) tomorrow on the west coast of England and Wales, with mid to high-20s elsewhere.
Marco Petagna, of the Met Office, said: ‘Up to June 5 things look set to generally continue as they are at the moment – pretty fine and settled, and warm.’