Storms Austen and Boelo bring England's wettest week in two years, yet parts of the south are STILL in drought
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…
England recorded an average of 55mm of rain in the seven days to October 27, with the south-west receiving 87mm and the north-west 76mm — leaving England 11% above its long-term October average. The Environment Agency described it as the wettest week since Storm Ashley struck in October 2024, with river levels up at all but two of its monitored sites.
The Dart at Austins Bridge in Devon was classed as 'exceptionally high', with thousands of homes still without power days after Boelo passed.
Despite the deluges, a severe drought remains officially in force across six counties — Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex — where reservoir storage had dropped to just 31% in Devon and Cornwall.
Gusts reached nearly 80mph on the Isle of Wight during Storm Austen, triggering flight cancellations, train disruptions and shop closures from flooding.
