The amount of rain so far in September is well below the long-term norm, with reservoir levels way below average
Anyone who has refreshed their wardrobe for Autumn has had to hold back on wearing their new cosy jumper or coat this week as London has had another hit of temperatures that very much feel like summer.
The Met Office is forecasting highs to remain over 20C in London for the next week and temperatures are ‘expected to be above average’ into the first week of October at least. This Friday (September 25) is set to be the hottest upcoming day with 26C forecast.
Continued warm weather is only going to extend how long the Thames Water hosepipe ban runs for. The water supplier today warned customers across Greater London and the home counties that “significant and prolonged rainfall” is needed before the ban can be lifted.
While the rainfall we had earlier in in September was deemed “very welcome”, it has not been enough to overcome the prolonged dry weather the region has experienced since the spring, the company said.
It comes as much of England, including London and the South East, remains in drought following an extremely dry spring and summer that was also marked by successive heatwaves and hot weather, putting extra pressure on water resources.
Thames Water said rainfall between March and August was less than half the average, with August seeing 28mm of rain in the Thames catchment – just 43% of the long-term average.
The amount of rain so far in September is also well below the long-term norm. London reservoir storage was at 59 per cent as of mid-September, well below the 78 per cent average for the time of year, and Farmoor Reservoir, near Oxford, was at 75 per cent, below the 93 per cent average.
Julie Morton, head of water resources at Thames Water, said: “While the rainfall we have seen in September is very welcome, it has not been enough to overcome the impact of the prolonged dry weather we’ve experienced since spring.
“Across our region, rainfall between March and August was less than half of what we would normally expect, and while some river levels have responded to recent rain, groundwater and soil moisture remain significantly below average.
“We will need significant and prolonged rainfall over the coming weeks to be able to consider lifting the restrictions that remain in place.
“We know restrictions are frustrating and we’re grateful to customers for continuing to use water carefully.
“Every reduction in water use helps protect supplies for customers, communities and the environment.”
Thames Water has had a hosepipe ban in place since July for more than 10 million customers who get their water supplies from the company in London, the Thames Valley and the home counties.
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