Relative lack of Spring rainfall triggers water shortage alert

With 1 June marking the primary day of meteorological summer time, we mirror on spring and ask whether or not it has been uncommon in any manner.

To completely respect what spring has been like we have to put it into context by casting our minds again to winter; a season historically thought to be a recharge interval for the UK’s water provides. UK rainfall over winter was down in contrast with common, with solely 83% of common rainfall being recorded for the UK. This relative shortfall in a key interval fuelled hopes for extra rain to return for spring. Did it? Properly, sure and no.

Spring rainfall throughout the UK has been very barely above common (106%). However as at all times with averages, inspecting the element can reveal attention-grabbing patterns. England has loved effectively above common rainfall, with counties like Cambridgeshire recording round 161% of what they might in a typical spring. Whereas the rain fell in England, particularly throughout a really moist March, components of Scotland – together with Inverness and Sutherland – have solely recorded slightly below two thirds of their anticipated rainfall (64%). That is the driest spring in North Scotland since 2018.

Spokesman for the Water Shortage crew on the Scottish Atmosphere Safety Company (SEPA), Stephen McGuire, stated: “Spring and Summer season are essential occasions of yr for water demand and SEPA began frequently reporting on water shortage on the finish of April. Initially, there have been early warnings of water shortage within the north and west of the Scotland with rainfall and river flows low for the time of yr. However in latest weeks we’ve skilled extra quickly drying circumstances and river ranges are actually very low throughout a lot of the Scotland.

“We’ve already issued alerts for water shortage within the northwest and south central areas, and with little rain within the instant forecast we count on the scenario to escalate rapidly and prolong throughout a a lot wider space within the coming weeks. SEPA will proceed to report weekly on the rising scenario.”

Spring temperature has been remarkably ‘common’ throughout the UK, however once more the final image masks plenty of element. After a colder-than-average begin to spring, bouts of hotter circumstances have helped to stability the books to convey values to common. Imply temperature for the UK has been 8.36°C; simply over 1 / 4 of a level above the long-term common between 1991 and 2020.

It’s price noting that this spring is considered one of solely three since 2000 the place the most popular day of the yr reached or exceeded 25.0°C on 29 Might or later. This spring we noticed 25.1°C at Porthmadog on 30 Might. In distinction eight springs since 2000 have seen temperatures attain or exceed 25.0°C earlier than the tip of April. In contrast with the typical between 1991 and 2020, Northern Eire noticed the best distinction to regular with temperatures right here reaching 0.76°C above.

Sunshine in Spring 2023 was largely just under common. However with 106%, Lancashire was the sunniest county relative to common.

Might 2023

Spring 2023 could possibly be thought to be a roughly ‘common’ season, however Might has extra factors of word.

The best speaking level has been the relative lack of rainfall through the month. Throughout the UK, solely 55% of anticipated rainfall was recorded (39mm), in contrast with the long-term common from 1991-2020. This makes Might 2023 one of many driest Mays in latest occasions, though Might 2020 was even drier with simply 32.8mm.

Some areas recorded even much less rainfall with Higher Manchester seeing solely 39% of its common for Might (26.6mm); making it the driest space of England relative to common. The driest space in contrast with common for the UK was Inverness which obtained solely a 3rd of anticipated rainfall. In distinction Cambridgeshire, Dorset and Norfolk all recorded above common rainfall.

Sunshine figures for Might 2023 have been combined. Orkney, with simply 95 hours noticed the least sunshine in contrast with common for the islands in Might since 1969. This was lower than half what could be anticipated in a typical Might. The sunniest county relative to common was Cornwall with 137% of common sunshine (289.5 hours).

The warmest areas in comparison with common (for Imply Temperature) have been largely unfold throughout Scotland, Northern England and Northern Eire. A few of these areas noticed common temp 1.4°C above the typical for 1991-2020.

Mike Kendon of the Met Workplace’s Nationwide Local weather Data Centre concluded: “Though imply temperature for Might has been above common, it’s notable that we haven’t seen any significantly important peaks of above-average temperature particularly through the second half of the month.”