United Kingdom

Very unsettled weather patterns across much of the country resulted in the 3 wettest July for the UK as a whole since 1960. Spates conditions were common (for the summer period) as were localised flash flood events and, in most areas, July runoff totals were notably high. Correspondingly, replenishment to both gravity-fed and pumped storage reservoirs was considerably above the mid-summer average. With a few exceptions (e.g. Loch Katrine) storage in almost all index reservoirs are appreciably above the early August average; overall stocks for England & Wales actually increased over the month (a rare circumstance) and are the 3 highest in a series from 1988 (but lower than at the same time in 2007). Generally, soil moisture deficits increased only modestly over the month and, entering August, were below average in most aquifer outcrop areas. A little local recharge contributed to above average groundwater levels in most major aquifer outcrop areas and, in some southern catchments, flows in many spring-fed rivers and streams are exceptionally high for the second successive summer. The UK’s 4 wettest Jan-July period (in a series from 1914) is reflected in a very healthy water resources outlook for the remainder of the summer and autumn.