UK's Driest April in Record: Water Scarcity Looms

0:00On May 1st, parts of the UK just wrapped up one of the driest April's on record, especially down south and east in England, where rainfall hit just a third of average or less. Overall, the country saw 23% less rain than normal, according to Met Office data. Meanwhile, it's a total split across the nation. Scotland and Northern Ireland got above average downpours, with spots in the Highlands soaking up A. Month and a half's worth, like Tirey at 175% of normal, farmers and water managers are feeling the pinch already. One big landowner in Norfolk and Suffolk called it 50% below average after a dry. March, and rivers in England are dropping fast, with four straight weeks under 10mm. Southern water suppliers say scarcity is real, in places like Kent and Sussex, even with some March recovery in reservoirs and aquifers, spring totals, still way short, leaving those areas officially water-stressed amid climate shifts and growing demand.

1:00Looking ahead, early May brings low pressure with showers and maybe thunderstorms, and things could get wetter mid-month, easing drought worries for now.