Abstract

Between 2016 and 2019, the UK was in a period of prolonged dry conditions with varying spatial and temporal foci. We look at the rainfall, river flows, soil moisture and drought impacts leading up to and including the heatwave of 2018, and the following year, placing the events into historical context. Using incident data from the UK regulators, we also explore drought impacts for this period.

Highlights

  • UnitS (ICARUS), Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland hydrological drought that primarily affected followed a more southerly track compared groundwater-dominated catchments, lead- to its typical position (Kendon et al, 2018). ing to water supply and environmental Despite this, the lingering effects of the dry Introduction impact concerns that extended into late spring and winter were still evident in parts 2019

  • Using southern and eastern England continued precipitation. These precipitation deficits incident data for 2018 from the Environment to fall and remained notably low in many propagate through the hydrological Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment boreholes; for example, Little Bucket Farm cycle – the speed of which is dependent Protection Agency (SEPA) we explore recorded its lowest end-of-November level on the nature of the precipitation deficits drought impacts for this period

  • 2018, 10 fish kill incidents were classified The drought incidents recorded by the resented in the incident reports), several as major incidents in central, southern and EA and SEPA in 2018 were grouped accord- sections of canals (managed by the Canal eastern England in northern England were the Welsh borders) which were directly attrib- Inventory (EDII) classification scheme, a closed in late July and early August due to uted to the dry weather

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Summary

Introduction

The Southern region received just 3mm of or exceptionally low across northern and weather-related incident reports between rainfall (6% of average) making it the dri- western Britain, and the lowest on record in July and August alone, more than four est June on record, whilst the Thames and several catchments

Results
Conclusion
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