Storms Austen and Boelo give England its wettest week in two years, but much of it is 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…
Storms Austen and Boelo dumped an average of 55mm of rain across England in the seven days to 27 October — the heaviest week since October 2024 — pushing the country to 11% above its long-term average rainfall for the month. The South West was hardest hit with 87mm falling, while the North West recorded 76mm, and river levels rose at all but two of the agency's monitoring sites.
The Dart at Austins Bridge near Buckfastleigh, Devon, is now classed as 'exceptionally high' by the Environment Agency.
Despite the deluge, severe drought persists across stretches of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.
Austen sent gusts of nearly 80mph across the Isle of Wight, cancelled flights and left thousands without power, with some homes still cut off as late as Wednesday.
