It's definitely been drier than 2018 in the S/SE/E. Loads of stations eg. Hurn, Odiham, Charlwood, SJP, etc have reported less than 1mm of rain since the start of July! (so basically a total drought)

 

Oh, I agree that in the S/SE/E the drought is worse.

I was more talking overall in the UK, and the severity of the drought conditions down there (in response to the claim it was a 'once in a generation or even worse', which to me is hyperbole)

 

For reference, here's two maps showing water levels in early August for both 2018 and 2022 - the maps aren't that detailed in the format posted, but they do give a good idea of the drier and less-dry areas:

 

2018

 

2022

 

 There's certainly a difference in the areas suffering most from drought conditions

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Oh, I agree that in the S/SE/E the drought is worse.

I was more talking overall in the UK, and the severity of the drought conditions down there (in response to the claim it was a 'once in a generation or even worse', which to me is hyperbole)

 

For reference, here's two maps showing water levels in early August for both 2018 and 2022 - the maps aren't that detailed in the format posted, but they do give a good idea of the drier and less-dry areas:

 

2018

 

2022

 

 There's certainly a difference in the areas suffering most from drought conditions

And if you look carefully you can see that blue patch on the south coast which I'm guessing is Portsmouth water. 

 

The EA is understaffed as I’m sure you know. Perhaps the best thing we can do rather than rely on their hard worked staff doing everything, is for example if you see a pollution incident get a sample even if it's in a bottle you carry in the car. Too often the slug of pollution has passed downstream and it’s too late to get a result prosecution wise. Then get it to the EA asap.

Of course even better than taking water samples is to get involved with something like this. https://riverthame.org/get-involved/volunteering/surveys/riverfly/

I like the pic of the Mayfly

You can observe a much better series of snapshots about the health of a watercourse than ordinary sampling will ever do. Simple really because you can tell the health of a watercourse by the species of insect you find or don’t find. The canaries in the cage so to speak.

https://www.riverflies.org/

Nick

  Yes, the EA is vastly understaffed and under funded, which is why they are not as effective as they should be and I know it’s very frustrating for them as well.  I have had dealings with them recently regarding our local swans, so I do appreciate what they’re up against. 

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This image below (click to open full size image in a new window) from NASA yesterday gives a nice overview of the areas being impacted by water shortages:

 

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A drought is expected to be declared in the South West tomorrow

 Heavy rain coming then as in 76.

 

 

It's not a 'once in a genertion' event, though. Is is that much drier than 2018?

It's certainly not anything like as widespread.

If you want, I could post a pic of the lush, green grass and vegatation round here.  It's been a good summer generally, but interspersed with bouts of some rain (enough to keep things watered sufficiently)

In all, for this region at least, I suspect it's been a fantastic growing season for farmers

 

I'd love a pic of the lush green grass Saint - it's in short supply down here 😉

I wasn't referring to the UK as a whole (apologies if it came across that way) as I'm well aware that for many things are still decidedly stuck in a typical British Summer. However for a large part of England there is a once in a generation drought occurring - I don't think there's anything hyperbolic about that but am happy to stand corrected. 

I'd still like some pictures of it as well!🤣

 

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This man is Unbelievable

https://twitter.com/arron_banks/status/1557625023971692544?s=21&t=4lbctHXVC8F5D8OV8bkyhA 

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Getting like a desert in my area now.

 

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This man is Unbelievable

https://twitter.com/arron_banks/status/1557625023971692544?s=21&t=4lbctHXVC8F5D8OV8bkyhA

 

An utter slug.

Come the revolution, he'll be the one I hunt down first and bury a hammer in his fat skull 

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Following on from what Saint said, I have to say that we are a little bit on the dry side here but nothing out of the ordinary. We have had plenty showers to keep us topped up between hot spells. I'd actually say it has been a nice balance. The ground is dry but the grass is still green and the ground isn't cracked. With rain forecast all next week, it looks like that will continue.

The 2018 spell was much drier in these parts. I remember the unusual dusty cracked ground. The deep gaps between the sides of my lawn where it had dried and shrunk. The multiple fires. Nothing like that here this year. 

It really is incredibly parched here now. I dont remember 2018 being this bad. Probably comparable to 1995. Looks like the drought will break though Wednesday ish next week.

 

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This image below (click to open full size image in a new window) from NASA yesterday gives a nice overview of the areas being impacted by water shortages:

 

Even parts of Ireland looking less than emerald there!

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The ford in Broughton, Hants. https://i.imgur.com/UQKo2FN.jpeg

 

 

Normally even in summer it's close to a foot deep but in dry summers it can dry up by early autumn. Been dry for two weeks now which is very early.

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It maybe dry here in the far SW but the ground water is still reasonably good. Go down any Cornish mine and most are still flooded. 
Our local Stithians reservoir is still 60-70% full. 
I will be very reluctant to stop using the hose pipe to wash my push bike. 😑

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It really is incredibly parched here now. I dont remember 2018 being this bad. Probably comparable to 1995. Looks like the drought will break though Wednesday ish next week.

 

1995 was the most driest one because it killed all the stinging nettles in the park which in summer some foot paths become impassible because of over grown nettles but was all dead so you can walk though, only passible in late Autumn to late Spring before they shoot up.

 

1995 was the most driest one because it killed all the stinging nettles in the park which in summer some foot paths become impassible because of over grown nettles but was all dead so you can walk though, only passible in late Autumn to late Spring before they shoot up.

It's that dry in my area this year. As I commented a couple of weeks ago, it's been dry enough that all the weeds have basically shrivelled to nothing.

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Even parts of Ireland looking less than emerald there!

We've had about 2 or 3 wet days since the start of July, which has kept things fairly green, but the number of dry days has been extraordinary. 

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1995 was the most driest one because it killed all the stinging nettles in the park which in summer some foot paths become impassible because of over grown nettles but was all dead so you can walk though, only passible in late Autumn to late Spring before they shoot up.

95 really was exceptional I was 16 growing up in Sussex at the time. And fires were breaking out all the time round our way. The Army were using Green Goddesses fire engines to cope . We'd see them every day . 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Goddess%23:~:text%3DThe%2520Green%2520Goddess%2520is%2520the,exceptional%2520events%252C%2520including%2520being%2520operated&ved=2ahUKEwjSle2tl7_5AhW1SkEAHQGlAw8QFnoECA8QBQ&usg=AOvVaw0BwX9b-FZrmN-zabml0QVr

 

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quote=Rob K;1466124]

The ford in Broughton, Hants. https://i.imgur.com/UQKo2FN.jpeg

 

 

Normally even in summer it's close to a foot deep but in dry summers it can dry up by early autumn. Been dry for two weeks now which is very early.

I often cycle from Middle Wallop via Broughton to home. The truth is I have seen this at this very spot completely dry in several recent summers- oddly, there is sometimes water upstream and downstream. The Test feeder streams are odd in other places too- the River Dun is completely bone dry at West Dean but has water flowing in Lockerley. The aquifers are holding out well I think, for now, as the Test is looking healthy- I was in Mottisfont a nshort while ago on my cycle to Longleat; but I think Dew has a link to river flow data that might be of interest so I might be misjudging by eye alone.

 

 

 

 

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It's that dry in my area this year. As I commented a couple of weeks ago, it's been dry enough that all the weeds have basically shrivelled to nothing.

Yes!  That’s one good thing about it. I have had to do very little weeding in the garden this year.  Oddly, the only weed surviving is chickweed, which likes damp conditions. Maybe because it’s growing round my geraniums which do get watered. 

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