England records its wettest week in two years after storms Austen and Boelo, yet millions are STILL under hosepipe bans
Residential streets submerged during Storm Boelo on 26 October, as the two storms together pushed England to 11% above its long-term average rainfall for the month despite severe drought persisting across parts of the…England's rainfall pattern, with the South West recording the heaviest downpour at 87mm across the seven days to 27 October, even as severe drought persists across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset…
Southern England's reservoirs remain critically low despite the storms, with Wimbleball on Exmoor rising only from 12.5% to 14% full in the days after the downpours, and 11 reservoirs across England still classed as "exceptionally low."
The Environment Agency warns England needs 120% of typical rainfall for seven months before drought conditions return to normal.
Severe drought remains officially declared across six counties — Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex — with hosepipe bans still in force for millions.
Storage in Devon and Cornwall has plummeted to just 31% overall, with early rain soaked up by parched soil before it can replenish groundwater.
