Overview
- Meeting in London on Thursday, the National Drought Group said drought conditions are likely to persist into next year without sustained, widespread rain.
- Recent rain shifted Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire into drought‑recovery status, which officials cautioned could reverse.
- England needs about 100% of average winter rainfall — roughly 482mm — for a broad recovery by the end of March, according to the expert group.
- Provisional data show England has received only 61% of its typical annual rainfall to October 28, and about 41% of reservoirs are at least half full versus roughly 76% normally.
- Hosepipe bans remain in parts of areas served by Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, South East Water and Southern Water, as the government backs conservation, leakage reduction and plans for nine new reservoirs.