Overview
- Rain during the week of Aug 28 to Sept 3 produced the wettest week since early February and improved river flows and soil moisture in many areas.
- Environment Agency data for the week ending Sept 1 show national reservoir storage at about 58 percent with 11 reservoirs less than half full and nine classed as exceptionally low for the time of year.
- Ten Environment Agency areas remain in formal drought status and temporary use bans on household water use continue across large parts of England.
- Reservoir levels continue to fall for many public supplies because current demand is outpacing the slow recharge of reservoirs and groundwater after months of record heat.
- The Met Office forecasts an Atlantic-driven, unsettled autumn that could bring further heavy rain but officials say sporadic spells of wet weather will not reliably end drought impacts or remove restrictions.