Overview

• The Environment Agency upgraded Yorkshire to drought status on June 12 after one of the driest springs on record led to declining river flows and groundwater levels.
• Reservoirs across Yorkshire are at 60–65% capacity, significantly below the usual 80–85% for this time of year following 22 days of almost no rainfall in May.
• Yorkshire Water warned that households may face temporary restrictions such as hosepipe bans this summer without significant additional rainfall.
• The company has mobilized 100 extra field staff to repair leaks and is coordinating with regulators to manage and redistribute water resources across the region.
• Researchers at the University of Reading link the extreme dryness to climate change trends that are likely to intensify future drought conditions in the UK.