Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Britain withers under drought conditions' amid European
heatwave
By Adrian Dennis | AFP News – Thu, 12 May, 2011
Parts of southern Britain are suffering from drought conditions
following the warmest April on record amid a heatwave sweeping
across northern Europe, researchers said on Thursday.
England and Wales received the lowest March and April rainfall
since 1938 with some regions getting the lowest rain in records
dating back more than 100 years, according to the Centre for
Ecology and Hydrology (CEH).
Water flows in some rivers, including the Exe in southwest England
and the Ribble in northern England, were similar to those
experienced in a drought in 1976, considered the most severe ever
across much of Britain, said the CEH.
The dry conditions had "resulted in agricultural and hydrological
drought conditions affecting large parts of southern Britain",
said the CEH.
"The primary impacts are on farmers and growers, an increased risk
of forest and heath fires and, importantly, on river flows."
The dry weather sparked rare wildfires in England, Scotland and
Northern Ireland at the start of the month.
The Met Office national weather service has said last month was
the warmest April on record in Britain, with an average
temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsius.