32C yellow alert raises fears for parched reservoirs and rivers

UK weather: Met Office forecasts hot summer temperatures

Another summer heatwave is forecast this weekend, prompting fears that rivers and reservoirs will again become parched. The Met Office has issued a yellow hot-weather warning, with the elderly and vulnerable urged to take extra care as temperatures soar to 89.6F (32C) in some areas.

The affected “hot spots” include London, the South-East, the South-West, East and West Midlands, the East of England and Yorkshire and Humber.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, of the UK Health and Safety Agency, said there would be “another sustained period of hot weather”. He said in the coming days “it’s important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun”.

London is expected to be hottest with potential highs of around 89F (31 to 32C) but the mercury could well be in the scorching eighties for large parts of England.

On June 10 in Surrey temperatures soared to a record for this year of 89.9F (32.2C) and news of yet another heatwave will spark concerns for our rivers, reservoirs and ground water supplies.

READ MORE New heatwave to roast Britain – charts turn black in 33C blast

There is already a South West Water hosepipe ban in place throughout Cornwall and parts of North Devon. And from Monday, South East Water will also be introducing one in Kent and Sussex.

Experts at the Environment Agency recently warned the UK faces “increasingly extreme climate shocks”.

The National Drought Group, chaired by EA chief executive John Curtin, met to discuss how “the Government, regulators and water companies can work together to better prepare for the continual shocks and erratic weather patterns caused by a changing climate.”

Mr Curtin said: “This spring’s wet weather continues to improve water availability. But increasingly extreme climate shocks, such as last summer’s hot and dry spell, can change everything in an instant.

“We need to be better prepared for future climate-driven drought, as well as learn from what we have already experienced. That is why government, regulators, water companies and all water users will continue to work together, using the latest science and best practice, to ensure our water resources are prepared for more extreme events in the future.”

Water minister Rebecca Pow said: “It is crucial we all work together to ease pressures on our precious water supply and increase resilience to drought – everyone has an important role to play. Water companies must better deliver for customers, step up their water resource planning efforts and take precautionary steps to ensure water resilience.”

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And the Angling Trust has warned “rivers do not have the resilience to function in anything like a natural freshwater ecosystem”. It added: “Through poor water quality, pollution and, in places, over abstractions and low flows, we have left our rivers unable to cope.

“The fish suffer because not one of our rivers is in a good chemical state and only 16 percent are in a good biological state. Water companies continue to pollute, too often pouring raw sewage into them after some rain, adding to the pressure our rivers already face.”

John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The recent hot weather and heavy storms have caused an unprecedented number of fish in distress across the canal network.”

European policymakers are also battling to get to grips with what is feared could be yet another climate crisis-fuelled summer of drought on the Continent.

Reservoirs in Mediterranean countries such as Italy have in recent weeks fallen
to levels typically associated with summer heatwaves, while protests have broken out over water shortages across both France
and Spain.

Satellite data analysed by Austria’s University of Graz found drought was having an impact in Europe on a much larger scale than researchers previously feared.

The study came after European Union scientists found member countries experienced their hottest summer ever last year. The drought is thought to have been the worst dry spell in the region for 500 years. Torsten Mayer-Gürr, a lead author of the satellite study, said: “A few years ago, I would never have imagined water would be a problem here in Europe, especially in Germany or Austria. We have to think about this.”

Daily Express analysis of England’s 10 major water companies show our reservoirs running at 88.3 percent capacity. This is almost double the 49 percent in September 2022 when they were at their lowest following last summer’s drought.

Meanwhile, after some recent shocking images of bone-dry rivers, such as the River Derwent in the Lake District’s Borrowdale Valley, the nation’s fragile rivers are also slowly refilling thanks to a wet week.

The latest EA data shows river flows have increased at 79 percent compared with the previous week thanks to welcome showers and thunderstorms.

However, in the village of Yockenthwaite, North Yorks, the River Wharf was still dry this week as recent rains failed to replenish. And water levels were also low at Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District.

Meanwhile, after a broiling Sunday rain –locally heavy and thundery – will bring fresher conditions to the west. And the Met Office says it will be changeable and cooler for all from early next week.

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